The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today announced the successful resolution of a federal civil rights complaint filed last year against the University of California, Los Angeles’ (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) for allegedly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
On July 5, 2024, CAIR-LA filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) on behalf of its client—a Muslim Palestinian-American medical student—who experienced multiple incidents of discrimination based on race, national origin, and religion during a pediatrics clerkship at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in the fall of 2023. After reporting the discrimination, the student faced punitive and retaliatory measures, including deliberate negative evaluations and a failing grade in the pediatrics clerkship.
In response to the complaint, the OCR agreed to address the concerns regarding the treatment of CAIR-LA’s client by superiors and clerkship co-chairs as part of an agreement with the University of California compelling UCLA to resolve complaints of national origin bias filed by Palestinian, Arab, and Jewish students. The DGSOM also agreed to remove the student’s failing grade.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Civil RightsManaging Attorney Dina Chehata, Esq., said:
“In recent months, we have seen a disturbing rise in anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim bias in academic and professional settings. This case represents a crucial step forward in holding institutions accountable for discriminatory conduct and ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, are treated with fairness and dignity. No student should be punished simply for being who they are. We commend our client’s courage in coming forward and are encouraged by the steps taken by OCR to reverse the harm endured. We will continue to advocate for students facing similar discrimination until equity and justice are upheld across all campuses.”
In a statement, CAIR-LA’s client said:
“This determination by OCR is a step in the right direction, and I hope UCLA and the DGSOM will work with them to eliminate racism and discrimination and address bias towards Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and students of color at their school—for their own good and the good of their student community. No one should be silenced, mistreated, or retaliated against for their identity or their advocacy for equal human rights.”
In 2024, CAIR-CA’s legal team responded to more than 4,000 civil rights and immigration concerns statewide, including challenging Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hate in public schools and higher education and protecting Muslim students’ rights.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties 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-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Morse-Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com