California Republican Steve Hilton and former state Sen. Gloria Romero, a Democrat, have come together to call for California colleges and universities to bring classes back to campus and reinstate graduation commencements that were canceled due to anti-Israel protests. Hilton and Romero expressed concern for the majority of hardworking students who want and expect to complete their studies in a normal way and have their graduation ceremonies uninterrupted. They criticized the lack of action from UCLA, the University of California system, and the state’s political leadership in addressing the disruptions caused by a vocal and sometimes violent minority on campus.
Hilton and Romero held a press conference at UCLA, where they demanded that California universities affirm that classes would resume for the rest of the semester and that commencement ceremonies would proceed as planned. They stressed the importance of protecting the safety and security of Jewish students and rejecting demands to shut down or defund Jewish cultural community and welfare organizations on campus. The goal of their advocacy was to stand up against the mob and uphold the rule of law in the face of bullying and harassment by a minority of students and outside agitators.
In a letter addressed to Gov. Gavin Newsom and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, Hilton and Romero criticized the “calamitous absence of leadership” that has negatively impacted students at California’s public universities. They called out the selfish imposition of divisive, extremist, and often racist ideologies by protesters who have been declared unlawful. The letter demanded that California leadership ensure that all graduation and commencement ceremonies proceed as scheduled between June 13th and 16th, urging a swift and decisive response to protect the rights and freedom of students on campus.
Romero emphasized the importance of their nonpartisan effort, highlighting their shared belief in the right to protest without suppressing the freedom and liberty of Jewish students on the campus. Both Hilton and Romero have engaged in protests in the past but stress the need to prevent the physical movement of students from being hindered by extremist actions. They criticized UCLA’s elected leaders for seemingly going into hiding in response to the protests, leaving the campus feeling like a ghost town with no one studying.
Hilton highlighted the disruption faced by students who have already dealt with lockdowns during the pandemic, emphasizing the unfairness of subjecting them to further disruptions. Romero echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of giving meaning to “Never Forget” by speaking up against injustice and in support of the impacted students. Despite their advocacy, the governor’s office and University of California’s Office of the President did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
The joint effort by Hilton and Romero aims to bring attention to the challenges faced by students amidst campus disruptions and anti-Israel protests. By advocating for the reinstatement of classes on campus and the protection of graduation ceremonies, they seek to ensure the rights and safety of all students, particularly Jewish students who have been targeted in the protests. Their nonpartisan approach underscores the importance of standing up against extremism and defending the rule of law to safeguard the educational experience and freedoms of students in California’s public universities.
