Arrr, a jolly liberator be banished from UC Berkeley, matey! The scallywags whine, claimin' he be favorin' Israel, arrr!
2023-12-22
Avast me hearties! Liberal matey Dan Kalb be walkin' the plank at University of California Berkeley! His words about environmental policy be drowned out by student squabbles 'cause he be pro-Israel! Arrr, the tides be turnin' indeed!
A University of California Berkeley professor uninvited a progressive environmental advocate and longtime Oakland City Council member from speaking to an environmental policy class after students discovered that he supported Israel. The professor claimed that the disinvitation was due to student disagreement with the speaker's views, but UC Berkeley insists that this is not consistent with the university's values. The students had written a strongly worded letter accusing the speaker of promoting pro-Israeli propaganda. The university spokesperson expressed dismay about what happened and assured the speaker that actions like this will not happen again. The university intends to remind all deans and department chairs of Berkeley's support for an open exchange of ideas and its rejection of political litmus tests. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the speaker accepted the decision to cancel the talk. Antisemitism has been a persistent issue on many university campuses, including UC Berkeley, since the Hamas terror attacks in October. Last month, Jewish groups sued the University of California Regents and other school officials for allowing the unchecked spread of antisemitism on campus. The groups argue that courts must intervene to protect the civil rights of Jewish students and faculty. The environmental advocate expressed frustration with the antisemitism on campus and questioned why Israel or Zionism should have any relevance to discussions on climate change. He called for an end to such discrimination and harassment.