Los Angeles, CA – The Israeli-American Civic Action Network (ICAN) strongly supports Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur’s request for an immediate investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights into potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). ICAN echoes the concerns raised by Assemblymember Zbur regarding the safety and civil rights of Jewish and Israeli-American students at UCLA.
In recent events, demonstrators have specifically targeted these students, employing tactics such as creating checkpoints on campus with signage excluding Zionists and engaging in physical and verbal harassment. These actions have not only compromised the safety of Jewish and Israeli-American students but also their fundamental right to access educational opportunities free from discrimination.
ICAN condemns the administration’s inadequate response to these incidents and its failure to uphold the civil rights protections afforded under Title VI. The lack of effective action by UCLA to protect its students is alarming and necessitates a thorough review and appropriate response to ensure such failures do not occur in the future.
“We stand with Assemblymember Zbur in his call for accountability and action,” said Dillon Hosier, CEO at ICAN. “It is imperative that our educational institutions remain places of safety and inclusion for all students, irrespective of their race or national origin. The reported incidents at UCLA are unacceptable and must be addressed promptly to restore trust and ensure the protection of all students’ rights.”
ICAN is committed to supporting efforts to foster a safe and inclusive environment in educational settings across the nation. We urge the UC Regents to follow through with an independent investigation into the security failures at UCLA and to take decisive steps to prevent future violations of students’ civil rights.
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