UC Berkeley School of Law student groups ban 'Zionist' speakers from campus

Bylaw, drafted by Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine and endorsed by 9 other student groups, allegedly aims to protect 'safety and welfare of Palestinian students'; school's Jewish dean slammed for allowing antisemitism to flourish
Ynet|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Student groups at UC Berkeley School of Law have passed a bylaw banning "Zionist" speakers from appearing at events on campus.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • The bylaw, presented by the “Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine” (LSJP) student group, allegedly aims to protect "the safety and welfare of Palestinian students.” According to the Daily Mail, at least nine other student groups endorsed the bylaw so far.
    2 View gallery
    University of California’s Berkley campus
    University of California’s Berkley campus
    University of California’s Berkley campus
    (Photo: AP)
    The Berkeley Law School’s Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, a Jewish man himself, said the bylaw may prevent him from speaking in university events. “Taken literally, this would mean that I could not be invited to speak because I support the existence of Israel, though I condemn many of its policies.”
    Some Jewish organizations criticized Chemerinsky’s words, saying he allowed for an antisemitism to flourish at the university.
    The Jewish Students Association at Berkeley Law also addressed the bylaw, saying it was “saddened and concerned that groups silence Jewish voices on campus.” It added, “students can advocate for Palestinians and criticize Israeli policies without denying Israel the right to exist or attacking the identity of other students,”
    2 View gallery
    אוניברסיטת ברקלי
    אוניברסיטת ברקלי
    University of California’s Berkley campus
    (Photo: Shutterstock)
    In response to the criticism, LSJP defended the decision, saying Israel "is an apartheid state. We have an obligation to act.”
    It added: “'Supporting Palestinian liberation does not mean opposition to Jewish people or the Jewish religion; in fact, Jewish liberation and Palestinian liberation are intertwined, and we are committed to each other's safety.”
    6Comments
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    4.
    US jews (students & faculty) should boycott berkeley
    ofer desade| 10.03.22
    20
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    3.
    They hate israel almost as much as they hate America
    David| 10.03.22
    40
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    2.
    Humanity must confront global Jewish dictatorship
    It is sad and lamentable that while Zionism has been able to control states and governments, it has utterly failed to win ordinary people. It is also sad that many college students n America have come to view Zionism as a kind of Jewish Nazism.
    Akiva Ben Ytzhak| 10.02.22
    013
    add comment
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    Load more talkbacks
    ""