The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today condemned the Trump administration’s continued attacks on free speech and academic freedom on university and college campuses, following a systemwide investigation into California State University (CSU).
SEE: Cal State universities now target of antisemitism probe by Trump administration
On Friday, Sept. 26, CSU Chancellor Mildred García sent an email to the university community announcing that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reportedly had initiated an investigation and was contacting faculty and staff members to “review allegations of antisemitism and to speak with them about their experiences on campus.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly weaponized false allegations of antisemitism to silence anti-genocide students, faculty, and staff who speak out against the Israeli government and its ongoing genocide in Gaza. This pattern has been seen at universities and colleges nationwide, including at the University of California, Los Angeles, UC Berkeley, and CSU LA.
Earlier this year, President Trump threatened to unconstitutionally punish anti-genocide student protesters and academic institutions that allowed anti-genocide protests to take place on campus.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“The Trump administration has an undeniable pattern of exploiting the very real problem of antisemitism to chill free speech on campus and silence anti-genocide students, faculty, and staff who speak out against the Israeli government and its campaign of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and occupation in Gaza. We call on CSU to defend the rights of its faculty and students, rather than cave to the administration’s dangerous political agenda.”
CAIR recently welcomed a ruling by a federal judge finding that the Trump administration violated the free speech rights of international students for expressing anti-genocide views.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Communications Director Zaid Hisham, (916) 441-6269 or zhisham@cair.com; CAIR San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, (760) 201-7626, tnizam@cair.com; CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, (408) 498-5779 or ladam@cair.com