BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) — The fall semester begins this week at UC Berkeley.
For the President of the University of California, Michael Drake, it was a summer of reflection.
In a letter Monday, he said campus leaders have spent the past few months coming to terms with the events of last year, during which pro-Palestinian protests occupied UC campuses.
MORE: UC to admit “largest and most diverse class” in history for fall 2024
Some, such as demonstrations at UCLA, escalated into violence. Now the UC system wants to strengthen and clarify its policies and procedures.
Drake announces that he will enforce bans on campus encampments and identity-concealing masks, but writes in his letter: “Our primary goal is for all members of our community to feel supported in their ability to express themselves.”
The Chancellor of UC Berkeley reiterated his support in a video message sent to all students.
VIDEO: Gaza protesters at UC Berkeley clear out their camp after talks with the university
The pro-Palestinian camp at UC Berkeley will be cleared on Tuesday afternoon following talks with the university.
“We will continue to respond quickly and specifically to violence, violations of the law, and words or actions that constitute harassment and/or discrimination,” said Rich Lyons, chancellor of UC Berkeley. “Such behavior will not be tolerated.”
Some are against the restrictions.
“This is an unsustainable policy,” said Ronald Cruz, a lawyer and organizer with BAMN. “It will be the biggest crackdown on free speech since the McCarthy era and it is completely discriminatory and shows their hostility to free speech.”
This all comes as the Brandeis Center is suing UC Berkeley over its handling of protests last year, calling the campus a “hotbed of anti-Jewish hostility and harassment.”
“We do not trust the Brandeis Center or the UC administration to protect our rights,” said Zaid Yousef, president of the UC Berkeley Muslim Student Association.
VIDEO: Stanford students arrested for barricading themselves outside the president’s office and allegedly leaving ‘disgusting’ graffiti
A group of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested after barricading themselves outside the Stanford University president’s office on Wednesday morning.
Now these pro-Palestinian student protesters and their allies want to join the lawsuit to defend themselves and filed a motion to do so on Monday morning.
“We are caught between two parties (whose) The only real point of contention is how to oppress the Palestinians in the most efficient, PR-friendly and media-presentable way,” Yousef said.
“The university that suppresses our free speech does not represent us, and we demand our right to intervene so that we can present our arguments and our evidence can reveal the truth,” Cruz said.
The Brandeis Center and UC Berkeley were unavailable for comment on the lawsuit.
Copyright © 2024 KGO-TV. All rights reserved.
