The campus of the University of California, Irvine erupted into chaos during an anti-Israel protest, leading to the chancellor, Howard Gillman, expressing that he was “brokenhearted” in a statement. The protest involved hundreds of anti-Israel agitators who set up barricades and forced law enforcement agencies to restore order. Several dozen people were believed to have been arrested during the police response. Chancellor Gillman expressed sadness over the situation and condemned the actions of the protesters, stating that they dramatically altered the situation in a way that was a direct assault on the rights of other students and the university’s mission.
Gillman explained that he had attempted to handle the situation without police intervention, following guidelines recommending exhausting all possible alternatives before involving law enforcement. However, negotiations with the protesters took a violent turn, leading to a standoff between the agitators and heavily-geared police. The chancellor stated that the encampment violated university policies and was a matter of distress to other members of the community. Despite being prepared to allow a peaceful encampment without police involvement, the actions of the protesters forced a different response.
The protesters made demands that attempted to dictate the opinions of those who disagreed with them and oversee various elements of university operations, bypassing customary protocols. They were accused of assaulting the academic freedom rights of faculty and the free speech rights of faculty and students. Gillman expressed regret that the situation escalated to the point of police intervention, mentioning that his goal had been to resolve the protest peacefully. He remained committed to protecting the rights of all members of the community to express their viewpoints and defend faculty and students from efforts to prevent them from exercising their academic freedom and free speech rights.
As protests continued on the campus of UC Irvine, the university advised students to shelter in place and canceled classes for the remainder of the day. Classes were scheduled to be fully remote the following day due to ongoing protests. The chancellor expressed his hope for a culture of peace, mutual respect, and shared commitment to addressing differences through scholarly inquiry and debate. Despite the disruptions caused by the protest, he remained steadfast in his commitment to protecting the rights of faculty and students to freely express their viewpoints. The chancellor’s message emphasized the importance of upholding academic freedom and free speech on the campus.
