SANTA CRUZ, California — After the Jewish community suffered two hate crimes at UC Davis in recent days, 23 organizations with hundreds of thousands of members and supporters demanded UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi conduct a formal investigation into registered student group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and one of its members, Azka Fayyaz, also a UC Davis student senator.
On January 29, the UC Davis student government passed an anti-Israel divestment resolution written and promoted by SJP. A video of the meeting shows Jewish and pro-Israel students were heckled with loud chanting of “Allahu Akbar.” Later that evening, Fayyaz celebrated the passage of the resolution on Facebook with photos and postings that promoted violence against Jews, the destruction of Israel and terrorism.
Just days after the meeting, a Jewish fraternity at UC Davis was spray painted with swastikas. In addition, anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered at the Hillel House. Authorities said a janitor found the words, “grout out the Jews,” etched into the bathroom wall.
“We believe that the investigation will reveal that both the SJP and Ms. Fayyaz have violated university policies and fostered divisiveness, hatred and bigotry on campus in violation of the Principles of Community,” wrote the groups. “They should be held accountable.”
The groups allege that Fayyaz and SJP’s conduct is anti-Semitic according to the U.S. government and that it violated the following UC Davis Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations and Students:
- Section 102.08: Threatening the health and safety of Jewish and pro-Israel students;
- Section 102.09: Harassing students;
- Section 102.15: Disturbing the peace at the student government meeting and
- Section 102.24: Expressing intent to terrorize other students, faculty and staff who are Jewish and support the State of Israel.
“If, as we expect, the evidence substantiates the wrongdoing of the SJP and Azka Fayyaz, then they should be disciplined…” wrote the groups. “Ms. Fayyaz should be removed from her position in the student senate, since her hateful anti-Semitic conduct does not serve the student body she was elected to represent. The SJP’s registration should be revoked and it should lose all group privileges on campus, until it can demonstrate that, like other student groups, it can conform its conduct to the university’s rules and the Principles of the Community.”
The groups also urged Katehi to issue a strong public condemnation of the SJP and the conduct of its members.
“With anti-Semitism rising at an alarming rate around the world and right here in the U.S., it is more critical than ever that you continue to send the message to the university community that while UC Davis supports free speech and the robust exchange of ideas, it will not tolerate anti-Semitism or any other form of hate and bigotry,” added the groups.
The letter was signed by the following organizations: Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity (AEPi); AMCHA Initiative; Americans for Peace and Tolerance; Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law; Chabad of Davis; Chabad of Greater Sacramento; Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA); David Horowitz Freedom Center; Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET); Hasbara Fellowships; Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel; Iranian American Jewish Federation; Israeli-American Council (IAC); National Conference on Jewish Affairs; LA Advocacy Collective; Middle East Political and Information Network (MEPIN); Proclaiming Justice to the Nations; Scholars for Peace in the Middle East; StandWithUs; Students and Parents Against Campus Anti-Semitism; The Lawfare Project; Training and Education About the Middle East (T.E.A.M.); and Zionist Organization of America.
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Preceding provided by the Amcha Initiative