FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 23, 2016

 

 StandWithUs Congratulates UC Regents on Strong Stance Against Anti-Semitism, Anti-Zionism, and all forms of Discrimination, March 23, 2016

StandWithUs applauds the University of California (UC) Board of Regents for voting unanimously to adopt a new and much improved version of their "Principles Against Intolerance," originally proposed in September, 2015. The new version shows that the Regents are truly committed to addressing anti-Semitism, as well as other forms of bigotry within the UC system.

 

Jewish students and their allies worked for months to persuade university leaders to recognize and take action against the many forms of racism they face on campus. The Regents responded with their Final Report of the Regents Working Group on Principles Against Intolerance, acknowledging that, "opposition to Zionism often is expressed in ways that are not simply statements of disagreement over politics and policy, but also assertions of prejudice and intolerance toward Jewish people and culture." 

The Regents also passed an amendment to the Final Report, stating that, "Anti-Semitism, Anti-Semitic forms of Anti-Zionism, and other forms of discrimination have no place at the University of California." While this is less unequivocal than the previous language, it is a major step forward in educating the UC community about the nuanced forms of anti-Semitism Jewish students face today.

 

The document also covers disruptions of speakers, vandalism, discrimination within student government, and other forms of bigotry that Jewish students and others have unfortunately confronted in recent years.

 

According to StandWithUs CEO Roz Rothstein, "denying Israel's right to exist and opposing the rights of the Jewish people to self-determination in their homeland is racism, pure and simple. I commend the Regents for hearing the voices of Jewish students and recognizing that anti-Semitism manifests itself in relation to Israel far too often within the UC system." 

 

"As someone who graduated from a UC school, I'm incredibly proud of UC students who stood up for their rights and their community," said Max Samarov, StandWithUs Director of Research & Campus Strategy. "It is not always easy to balance protecting Jews and other minority groups from racism with upholding the 1st amendment and academic freedom, but I believe the Regents were able to do that successfully."

 

This victory against bigotry represents a major defeat for anti-Israel lobbying groups, which engaged in cynical attempts to stifle grassroots activism by Jewish students. These groups focused their arguments on protecting free speech and academic freedom, despite the fact that they routinely act in direct opposition to these critical values. They have violated free speech by shouting down speakers they disagree with and undermined academic freedom by pushing for academic boycotts against Israelis.This strongly suggests that what these groups are really seeking to protect are not any universal values, but rather their narrow political interests.

 

StandWithUs congratulates UC students on their inspiring activism which led to this groundbreaking victory. We will continue to work with Hillel, the AMCHA Initiative, the Brandeis Center, and all 50 organization that partnered to support students in their efforts to overcome all forms of racism within the UC System.