(LOS ANGELES, CA – 10/17/2023) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned a recent attack targeting students at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) while they attended a virtual Palestine Emergency Panel.
On Oct. 11, professors at UCLA hosted a panel for students titled “The Crisis in Palestine” in one of the classrooms on campus. After learning that the space had reached capacity, a group of students decided to watch the webinar on a laptop outside the meeting room.
During the webinar, four men entered the building and greeted a fifth man who was standing and watching the group of students as they viewed the webinar. The group then approached the students, allegedly threatening them and calling them terrorists. One of the men reportedly slammed the laptop shut before throwing it into the trash can, prompting several students to begin recording the interaction on their phones. Another student’s laptop was also allegedly slammed by one of the perpetrators.
A UCLA campus security guard and another UCLA staff member—who entered the hallway when they heard yelling—attempted to ward off the perpetrators, who were seen on video pushing over trash bins while calling the students “mother-f***ing terrorists” and threatening to tear the students’ “heads off.” The men allegedly continued their barrage of threats and insults as the students quickly left the building for their safety.
One of the students later allegedly saw three of the men attending an on-campus vigil for Israel, showing that UCLA security did not apprehend or remove the men from campus.
SEE:
· Video of Attack on UCLA Students Attending Webinar on Palestine – credit: anonymous UCLA student
· UCLA University Statements on Violent Attacks Abroad
· Reflections at the close of a difficult week
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“This is not the first attack on individuals showing solidarity for Palestine, and it won’t be the last. UCLA must understand and acknowledge how statements made by its leadership have led to these kinds of attacks. We have received disturbing, direct reports from students victimized for showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
“Initiating an investigation is only the first step in addressing the damage caused by the University’s biased statement. UCLA must take immediate action to right this wrong, including standing with us to publicly condemn these attacks on pro-Palestine supporters and ensure that perpetrators of these acts are held appropriately accountable.”
In a statement, CAIR-LA Civil Rights Managing Attorney Dina Chehata, Esq. said:
“We have recently seen UCLA’s leadership put out one-sided statements strongly condemning Hamas’ recent attack but never explicitly condemning Israel for its mass perpetration of war crimes against Gaza’s civilian population. We have pleaded with our trusted institutions to be courageous and to stop dehumanizing Palestinians and their struggle for liberation. What we are seeing now is a direct consequence of the University’s biased statements, which have emboldened these men to attack pro-Palestinian students with impunity.
“I cannot fathom how UCLA allowed these men to walk free, remain on campus, and attend another campus event after they had verbally and physically attacked students in the presence of a UCLA security guard. Where is UCLA’s statement condemning this violence on their own campus? Where is UCLA’s statement decrying the unfolding genocide against Gaza’s citizens, which has been condemned by the international community and under international law? We are tired of the selective outrage. It is time for UCLA and other institutions of higher learning to serve as safe harbors for all their students.”
CAIR-LA calls on UCLA to:
· Immediately investigate this incident and publicly condemn the attacks against pro-Palestine supporters, increase security for these events, discipline offenders decisively, and offer safety resources to students.
· Permanently ban or expel the assailants once identified to ensure the safety of all students on campus.
· Acknowledge the suffering and pain of Palestinians, not just Israelis.
To report any bias incidents, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at (714) 776-1177 or click here to file a report.
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