Photo: SJP UCI Facebook.

An anti-Israel student group responsible for a violent protest at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) has been issued a written warning, following the conclusion this week of a three-month investigation, The Algemeiner has learned.  

Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), perpetrators of the demonstration in May, was among students and staff who received an email, obtained by The Algemeiner, from Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Thomas A. Parham, reading, in part:

After a thorough review, the student conduct investigation is now complete. The investigators found that SJP, the group that organized and led the protest, violated Student Conduct Policies regarding disruption: ‘Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other University activities.’ As a result, SJP was issued a written warning, effective immediately and continuing until March 29, 2017. As part of the sanction, SJP must host an educational program by November 18, 2016.

This decision was reached after weeks of interviews with multiple witnesses and a thorough review of pertinent information…The decision is subject to appeal and the outcome of the appeal is final.

As is standard practice in law enforcement, the police investigation will remain open to accommodate additional witnesses who may wish to come forward…We support and defend groups exercising free speech and assembly, yet we must protect everyone’s right to express themselves without disruption…

As reported by The Algemeiner, SJP and other anti-Israel student groups at UCI violently demonstrated against a Student Supporting Israel (SSI) event featuring IDF veterans and the screening of a movie about the Israeli army.

According to reports at the time, the protesters blockaded attendees and shouted, “Long live the intifada,” “f*** the police,” “displacing people since ‘48/ there’s nothing here to celebrate” and “all white people need to die.” One female student was harassed and chased, to the point that she was forced to take refuge inside a nearby building. Police were eventually called in, but allowed the protest to continue.

In July, as reported by The Algemeiner, UCI’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) came under investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s office to determine whether the behavior of protesters was criminal. The DA’s office concluded that SJP did not engage in any criminal wrongdoing.

Attacks against Jewish and pro-Israel students saw a dramatic rise across more than 100 US college campuses between January and June 2016. According to a report by campus watchdog group the AMCHA Initiative, antisemitic incidents on college campuses increased by 45 percent as compared with the same time period in 2015.

In addition, according to the report, the suppression of Jewish students’ freedom of speech and assembly doubled, while calls for Israel’s elimination tripled. The calls and acts opposing Israel’s right to exist were found to be highly correlated with behavior that targeted Jewish students for harm.