UCLA alumni, donors and supporters are asking UCLA Chancellor Gene Block to crack down on anti-Semitism at the National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) conference, scheduled to take place on the UCLA campus from Nov. 16-18.
Attorneys Michael Cypers and Gary Lincenberg wrote in a letter to Block that UCLA alumni, donors and supporters are calling for UCLA to “closely monitor what happens on your campus at this conference in light of the fact, as you acknowledge, that various SJP members over recent years have preached a violent, anti-Semitic message.”
“Not all speech is protected and inciting violence against Jews or any other racial, ethnic or religious group should not be tolerated by you or UCLA,” Cypers and Lincenberg wrote.
Cypers and Lincenberg added that UCLA should ensure that SJP prevents anyone who has called for violence against Jews from entering the conference; if participants do end up calling for violence against Jews, then UCLA should cancel the conference.
“Recent events underscore our concern that the upcoming SJP conference at UCLA will be held in violation of both California law and the UC Relents Statement of Principles Against Intolerance,” the attorneys wrote, citing NSJP’s conference logo of the UCLA Bruin playing with a Palestinian kite.
“Because of the actions of SJP, a number UCLA students and faculty have feared for
their safety on campus,” Cypers and Lincenberg added. “SJP’s violence-laden messages undermine the open atmosphere of the campus as well as the goal of having a campus that is home to the peaceful exchange of ideas where civil rights are respected and about which you write in your opinion piece.”
On Monday, Chancellor Block wrote in a Los Angeles Times op-ed that UCLA can’t cancel the conference, despite the anti-Semitism coming from SJP members, due to the First Amendment. Some organizations, such as the Anti-Defamation League, have expressed concern over the conference
