It is deeply concerning that a UCSD student organization, Students for Justice in Palestine, can violate legal directives issued by the university and face no concrete consequences.
Following the illegal Pro-Palestine encampment established on UCSD’s Library Walk on May 1, 2024, UC San Diego administration issued a cease and desist order to Students for Justice in Palestine. This action was prompted by the discovery of violent artifacts such as “a sword, propane tanks and grill, pepper spray and bear spray, metal and plywood shield, mallets, wooden stakes, etc.” and documentation of slogans inciting violence such as “There is only one solution, intifada revolution,” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Students for Justice in Palestine organizers denied camp access to fire marshal and health inspectors, indicating this was not a “peaceful protest” but posed danger to encampment participants and other students.
The interim suspension dictated by the order prohibits the organization and its members from “hosting and/or sponsoring events, conducting organizational meetings, updating principal membership, and making space reservations.” This directive followed an open case to investigate Students for Justice in Palestine behavior that has been “reasonably likely to lead to conduct threatening health or safety and disruptive activity incompatible with the orderly operation of campus.”
Yet for over eight months, there has been no clear action to move the investigation forward. Students for Justice in Palestine continues to host events on campus using other organizations and individuals as proxies to reserve spaces and promote events despite restrictions outlined in the order, raising questions about the consistency and enforcement of university policy.
The prolonged inaction and uncertainty surrounding this situation have significant implications for the broader UC San Diego community.
Students for Justice in Palestine’s numerous violations of the suspension have been publicized on its social media, showcasing the organization’s deliberate disregard for university directives.
The most egregious of these included a vigil held in front of Geisel Library on Oct. 7, 2024, hosted in collaboration with Jewish Voices for Peace at UC San Diego, whose organization was under a similar cease and desist order. The vigil not only violated the suspension — though the university claims otherwise, citing its location in the “free speech area” — it was also profoundly inappropriate given the significance of the day and the messages conveyed during the event.
On Oct. 7, 2023, over 1,200 men, women and children were murdered by Hamas in a terrorist attack on Israel, the largest slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust. Choosing that day was an intentional move, delegitimizing the mourning and remembrance of the Jewish community, especially considering Israel’s military response didn’t start in earnest until Oct. 10. For Students for Justice in Palestine to gather on the memorial of that day to honor Hamas terrorists who died after committing unspeakable atrocities should be horrifying to any empathetic person.
Additional potential violations include:
— “An Israeli’s Journey in Palestine” on Oct. 10, 2024, in collaboration with UCSD Divest Coalition (unaffiliated with the university).
— A press conference on Oct. 11, 2024.
— “Untold Stories of Gaza” on Nov. 12, 2024.
— Faculty poetry readings advertised on SJP’s social media on Nov. 12, 2024.
— “Divest From Genocide Study-In” on Dec. 6, 2024.
— “SJP Committee Application” on Dec. 12, 2024.
— Merchandise sales promoting SJP on Jan. 6 and 16, 2025
— “Threads of Resistance: Tatreez Workshop” on Jan. 7, 2025.
— “No Tech for Apartheid Teach-In” in collaboration with Muslim Tech Collaborative at UC San Diego on Jan. 16, 2025.
— “Walkout and Rally” on Jan. 21, 2025.
All of which were either explicitly or implicitly banned under the directive.
Despite consistent communication from concerned students and staff regarding these violations, they continue to be rebuffed by the administration, who claim to be delayed in addressing the situation due to the volume of recent reports regarding conduct violations. Tritons for Israel at UC San Diego demanded a formal response by addressing a letter to university administration expressing these grievances, signed privately by over 100 UCSD stakeholders.
It is imperative that administration seriously reconsider the enforcement of university policies. Failure to hold Students for Justice in Palestine accountable sends a troubling message that openly supporting genocidal rhetoric against Jews is an acceptable form of expression on campus. How long will this continue before reciting bigoted chants and bearing weapons becomes blocking Jews from buildings and harming Israeli students?
This article was originally published in The San Diego Union Tribune.
