We’re a big state with big challenges. Each morning we explain the top issues and how Californians are trying to solve them.One weekly email, all the Golden State newsGet the news that matters to all Californians. Start every week informed.Hillel, a campus religious group, hosts a rally calling for the release of kidnapped Israelis at UCLA's Wilson Plaza in Los Angeles on Nov. 7, 2023.
Each demonstration has ended peacefully. However, student activists say their involvement in pro-Palestinian activism has put them at risk and they are receiving death threats. A third-year student activist, who asked to remain anonymous for her safety, said the climate has turned a little bit scary.
A student bikes by the Stanford Sit-in to Stop Genocide at Stanford University on Nov. 6, 2023. Students began the sit-in on Oct. 20 to demand the school take action in support of Palestinian students during the current aggression in Gaza. Photo by Juliana Yamada for CalMatters According to Salma, a fourth-year UCLA student who declined to give her full name out of fear of being doxxed or retaliated against, said there was little confrontation from pro-Israel student groups while attending protests and vigils hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA.
Following a candlelight vigil held on Oct. 23 for all who have died in Israel and Gaza, Shana Charles, a Fullerton professor in attendance, said the inclusion of Jewish and Muslim communities on campus offers everyone a pathway to healthy dialogue with those grieving. While faculty members have been encouraging student voices through“As an inclusive community, it is important to recognize and communicate our empathy for how these events are experienced by our diverse Titan community.