CSULB professors say the university is targeting them for participation in pro-Palestine rallies, investment criticisms
The ACLU sent a letter to the university alleging the school’s “restrictive” protest policies are unconstitutional.
The decades-long debate over Israel and Palestine hit a fever pitch over the past year, spurring thousands of pro-Palestinian protests at universities across the U.S. Now, five Cal State Long Beach faculty members are accusing university officials of targeting them with policy violation warnings for their participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the spring semester.
Two protests in May drew more than 1,000 students calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and for the university to divest from all defense contractors. During both events, numerous professors spoke about the history and current events of Palestine. During the events, speakers — students, teachers and others — used microphones and bullhorns to ensure they could be heard throughout the crowd.
“We were all hired because of our academic training in questions of race and racism both in the U.S. and abroad and we are now being targeted for drawing on our expertise to take a stand against militarism and genocide in Gaza, suggesting that our viewpoints are only welcome if administrators agree with us,” Professor of English Araceli Esparza said in a statement.
