UC Riverside passes divestment resolution

The Associated Students of UC Riverside Senate passed a resolution to divest Associated Students of UC Riverside funds from companies that profit off human rights violations in Gaza, as specified by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, on Feb. 29. 

The bill passed with a unanimous 15-0 vote and withholds over $1 million of the Associated Students of UC Riverside (ASUCR) budget from funding companies specified by the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, according to an Instagram statement from Students for Justice in Palestine UC Riverside (UCR). 

“This bill institutionalizes a boycott of all ASUCR funds in accordance with BDS guidelines,” the post read.

UCR denounced the bill’s passing in a statement on March 1, clarifying that it “does not affect the investment practices of the university.”

“We strongly oppose this action and believe that it goes against the culture of open dialogue and discourse,” the statement read.

UC Berkeley speaker event evacuated following pro-Palestine protest; UCPD investigating claims of hate crimes

UC Berkeley canceled a planned speaker event with former Israel Defense Forces member, attorney and public diplomacy expert Ran Bar-Yoshafat on Feb. 26 following a pro-Palestinian protest outside the venue.

Bears for Israel, Tikvah Students for Israel and Students Supporting Israel organized the event, according to the Daily Californian. Initially set at Wheeler Hall, the location was moved to Zellerbach Playhouse following social media posts calling for the event’s shutdown, including a call from Bears for Palestine, a pro-Palestine student group at UC Berkeley.

Protestors stood outside Wheeler Hall at 6 p.m., then mobilized to Zellerbach Playhouse after learning of the venue change. 

The group shouted “Free Palestine” and attempted to enter the building, a protester named Rowan — who wished only to be identified by first name — told the Daily Californian. They said there were multiple altercations between University of California Police Department (UCPD) officers and protestors. 

“They were definitely pushing people back,” Rowan said. “I saw a police officer grab someone around the neck. I personally had my wrist yanked forward and then backward by a police officer.”

In a statement to the Daily Californian, UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof said the university sent “every available officer” to the event after social media posts opposing it began circulating.

Bar-Yoshafat was evacuated from the building before he could speak. Once UCPD officers evacuated event attendees from the premises, protestors were let inside.

Following the events of the protest, UCPD is investigating allegations of antisemitic hate crimes after receiving several reports from students, including allegations of physical battery. Video evidence of the protest is currently being reviewed along with interviews with individuals present at the event, according to a campuswide statement from Chancellor Carol Christ and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Benjamin Hermalin.

“This university has a long history of commitment to and support for nonviolent political protest that respects the First Amendment rights of others,” the statement reads. “That is not what occurred on February 26. It was not peaceful civil disobedience. We condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”

A version of this article appeared on p. 2 of the March 7, 2024, print edition of the Daily Nexus.

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Sindhu Ananthavel
Sindhu Ananthavel (she/they) is the Lead News Editor for the 2023-24 school year. Previously, Ananthavel was the Deputy News Editor for the 2022-23 school year, the Community Outreach News Editor for the 2021-22 school year and an assistant news editor for the 2021-22 school year. She can be reached at news@dailynexus.com.