Photo Credit: Trevor Jackson
(LOS ANGELES, CA – 5/1/2024) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today strongly condemned violent attacks by a mob of pro-Israel extremists on UCLA’s peaceful anti-genocide student encampment last night, injuring several people, and called on law enforcement to identify and prosecute those responsible.
SEE:
- UCLA clashes: Pro-Palestinian protesters attacked by Israel supporters
- Violence stuns UCLA as counterprotesters attack pro-Palestinian camp
CAIR-LA called on California and national political leaders to condemn the pro-Israel attack with the same vigor they have used to wrongly condemn students peacefully protesting against the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza. The Muslim civil rights organization also called for an investigation of the lack of police protection for anti-genocide students.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“We strongly condemn this mob of pro-Israel extremists for violently attacking students at the UCLA encampment last night and we call on political leaders to do the same. Free speech should never be met with crimes of hate. The pro-Israel extremists responsible for last night’s violence must be identified and prosecuted.
“We call on California Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate the lack of response of UCPD and LAPD as the pro-Israel mob brutalized and terrorized students at the encampment. Last night’s attack on UCLA students supporting Palestine was only the latest incident of violence against them. In recent days, pro-Israel extremists directed racial slurs and sexual threats at students, spat on a student, and released a pack of mice into the encampment.
“If students advocating for Palestinian rights and against genocide had engaged in a fraction of the violence perpetrated by the far-right Israeli government’s supporters, there would have been a national outcry.
“Across our nation, students who have launched peaceful marches, sit-ins, and encampments to protest their institution’s financial investments in the Israeli government have been met with a campaign of disinformation, discrimination, and now disturbing violence. This must end. UCLA and other schools must ensure that students can continue to peacefully protest the genocide in Gaza without facing attacks by violent pro-Israel mobs.”
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851, eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Madi Morse-Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com