The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the University of California, Irvine (UCI)’s decision to suspend several students involved in the school’s peaceful anti-genocide encampment and called on UCI administration to immediately reverse the disciplinary action.
SEE: BREAKING: Student Gaza Solidarity Encampment protestors issues suspensions
UC Irvine suspends some students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstration
On Wednesday, May 8, UCI issued interim suspensions to several student protesters who participated in the school’s Gaza Solidarity Encampment—including at least three members of the encampment’s negotiation team who had been meeting with UCI administrators to discuss the students’ demands of divestment from university investments tied to Israeli apartheid.
The suspension letter reportedly states students are being charged with multiple conduct violations and prohibits them from being physically or virtually present on the UCI campus, including housing facilities.
Student organizations within the encampment also received suspension letters from the university.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“UCI’s suspension of students peacefully protesting in the anti-genocide encampment is not only extremely disappointing but is feeding into the nationwide trend of implementing the ‘Palestine exception’ to free speech. As we have seen time and time again, including at many California colleges and universities, students are facing censorship, harassment, violence, arrests, and retaliation from their schools for expressing solidarity with Palestine and daring to speak out against the genocide.
“Our higher education institutions should be a place where free speech and expression is encouraged regardless of the school’ viewpoint on the issue, not systematically suppressed and censored. UCI must immediately reverse the suspension of the student protesters and protect their constitutionally guaranteed right to engage in peaceful protest and assembly on their campus.”
CAIR-LA sent a letter to UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman and other members of UCI leadership calling on the university to:
1. Rescind the suspensions against the students and take no punitive action, either academically or by law enforcement against the protesters.
2. Engage in good-faith negotiations with students to address their concerns.
3. Protect its students’ rights to peaceful speech and assembly on campus.
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, eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Madi Morse-Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com