The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for threatening to withhold degrees from 55 students who were arrested earlier this month for their participation in the school’s peaceful anti-genocide encampment in attempts to further suppress their pro-Palestinian advocacy.
SEE: UCLA threatens to withhold degrees from pro-Palestinian student protesters
On May 2, UCLA’s militarized police response to the university’s Gaza Solidarity Encampment led to the arrest of around 200 students peacefully protesting the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza. At least 55 of those students have reportedly received letters from their school’s administration accusing them of violating the student code of conduct, including “disorderly behavior” and “disturbing the peace.”
The letters reportedly require the students to schedule a meeting with university leadership by Wednesday, June 5, where they will “be given the opportunity to explain this situation from [their] perspective.” Students were warned that an academic hold would be placed on their records if they didn’t attend their meetings, preventing them from registering for classes, receiving their final grades, or graduating. Some students say they already have active holds placed on their online accounts.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“The actions we’ve seen from UCLA leadership towards students peacefully protesting their institution’s financial investments in Israel’s apartheid and genocide show without a doubt that the university has no intention of protecting students who are exercising their constitutional right to freedom of speech and assembly.
“For weeks, students at the UCLA Gaza Solidarity Encampment were subjected to harassment, discrimination, and disturbing violence from pro-Israel extremists while the administration did nothing to protect them. Instead, they were met with a militarized police response to take down the encampment and are now being threatened with academic discipline.
“Across the country, we have witnessed the double standards in how students speaking out against the genocide in Gaza are treated by their schools. We strongly condemn UCLA’s administration as it continues to engage in intimidation tactics and put its students’ safety and well-being at risk in order to silence pro-Palestinian speech and continue its support for the state of Israel.”
CAIR-LA previously called on UC President Michael V. Drake to ensure that investigations into the UCLA encampment attacks held the perpetrators accountable and addressed violations of students’ free speech rights on campus. It also urged President Drake to ensure that the students who participated in the encampment did not face any academic disciplinary action from their school.
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 Communications Coordinator Madi Morse-Hameed, [email protected]