Los Angeles, California – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) in the Greater Los Angeles Area has strongly denounced the violent attacks carried out by a group of pro-Israel extremists on a peaceful anti-genocide student encampment at UCLA last night. Several individuals were injured during the incident, prompting calls for law enforcement to identify and prosecute those responsible.
CAIR-LA has urged political leaders at both the state and national levels to condemn the pro-Israel attack with the same intensity that they have used to criticize students peacefully protesting against the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza. Additionally, the organization has called for an investigation into the lack of police protection provided to the anti-genocide students.
In a statement, Director of CAIR-LA Hussam Ayloush expressed the organization’s strong condemnation of the violent actions taken by the pro-Israel extremists against students at the UCLA encampment. Ayloush emphasized that free speech should never be met with acts of hate, and called for the individuals responsible for the violence to be identified and prosecuted.
Furthermore, Ayloush called on California Attorney General Rob Bonta to look into the lack of response from the University of California Police Department (UCPD) and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) as the pro-Israel mob attacked and instilled fear in students at the encampment. This incident at UCLA is just one in a series of attacks against those advocating for Palestine, with incidents ranging from racial slurs and sexual threats to spitting on a student and releasing mice into the encampment.
The organization highlighted the disparity in reactions between acts of violence committed by far-right supporters of the Israeli government and peaceful protests by students advocating for Palestinian rights. CAIR-LA emphasized the need for universities, including UCLA, to ensure that students can continue to peacefully protest against the genocide in Gaza without fear of violent attacks by pro-Israel groups.
Ultimately, CAIR-LA’s message is clear: hate-fueled violence against those advocating for justice and human rights will not be tolerated, and those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.