The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today condemned a recent statement from the University of California (UC) President Michael Drake banning student governments and all other “university entities” from boycotting companies associated with Israel.
SEE:
- Under Trump pressure, UC says student governments are banned from boycotting Israel
- Student governments across UC campuses banned from anti-Israel boycotts
President Drake sent a letter to chancellors in the UC system, reportedly stating that “[financial] boycotts of companies based on their association with a particular country” violated the university’s policies and that student governments on campus must engage in “sound business practices” that abide by UC legal requirements.
The statement reportedly outlined that the ban does not apply to student groups or clubs that are recognized as registered campus organizations, such as Students for Justice in Palestine.
Last year, UC released a statement outlining its opposition to calls for boycott and divestment from Israel, stating that “a boycott of this sort impinges on the academic freedom of our students and faculty and the unfettered exchange of ideas on our campuses.”
In a statement, CAIR-CA Legislative and Government Affairs Director Oussama Mokeddem said:
“President Drake’s directive effectively banning student governments from boycotting companies associated with Israel is a deeply troubling continuation of the UC system’s ongoing attempts to suppress students and faculty standing in support of Palestinian human rights. It sends a chilling message that financial interests and political pressure outweigh free expression and moral responsibility to take a stand against a foreign nation committing a genocide. UC leadership cannot claim to support academic freedom while simultaneously taking action to silence and punish viewpoints they disagree with.”
SEE ALSO:
- Hostile: How Universities Target Anti-Genocide Protesters While Enabling Anti-Palestinian Racism and Islamophobia.
- The Erosion of Free Speech on California’s Campuses: How It’s Happening and What We Can Do About It
UC has a long and well-documented history of discriminating against pro-Palestinian views. Over the past year, CAIR’s National office designated UC Irvine and UC Los Angeles (UCLA) as hostile campus environments for Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, and Jewish students, staff, and faculty opposing Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
In May 2024, UC Santa Cruz officials deployed law enforcement officers from multiple agencies to dismantle the peaceful Gaza Solidarity Encampment on campus. Approximately 80 pro-Palestinian students and faculty were arrested, and several students reported being subjected to aggressive physical force by officers.
In March 2025, CAIR-CA filed a lawsuit against UCLA that, in part, seeks to hold university leadership accountable for its failure to protect pro-Palestinian activists participating in a peaceful anti-genocide encampment from violence, harassment, and intimidation by law enforcement and pro-Israel extremists last spring.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Los Angeles Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Communications Contact Tasneem Manjra, (916) 441-6469, tManjra@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, ladam@cair.com