PROTECT STUDENT VOICES
TO DEFEND ACADEMIC FREEDOM
In 2024, campuses across the country erupted in student-led protests and encampments demanding an end to U.S. complicity in the assault on Gaza. As these students faced escalating crackdowns, disciplinary threats, and media distortion, MPAC stepped in to support and defend their rights. Through our Bureau of Academic Freedom, we provided strategic guidance, amplified student voices in national media, and worked with legal and policy partners to ensure that advocacy for Palestinian human rights is not criminalized or silenced.
Joint Statement with J Street: Defending Free Speech Across Difference
MPAC and J Street came together to oppose legislation threatening free speech and civil society—especially for those advocating for Palestinian rights. While we differ on policy toward Israel and Palestine, we stand united in protecting the constitutional rights of all Americans and resisting efforts to silence critical voices.
Demanding Accountability for Campus Violence
MPAC met with Los Angeles officials, including Mayor Bass, LAPD, and the County Sheriff, to call out the failure to protect pro‑Palestinian student protestors at UCLA. Following violent confrontations and over 200 arrests, we demanded investigations into law enforcement’s use of force and the dropping of charges against peaceful students. Through direct engagement and legal pressure, MPAC asserted that campuses must be safe spaces for free expression, not arenas for state-sanctioned aggression.
MPAC Secures Federal Inquiry into UCLA’s Handling of Pro‑Palestine Encampment
In May 2024, MPAC’s Bureau of Academic Freedom submitted a Title VI complaint prompting the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to open an investigation into UCLA’s response to violence and suppression of pro‑Palestine student protests and encampments. We demanded accountability for UC’s failure to protect student rights and called out selective enforcement that favors some voices over others. Through legal advocacy, media engagement, and pressure on federal authorities, MPAC continues to defend the right to peaceful campus protest and ensure justice for student activists.
Calling Out Campus Violence and Institutional Failures
MPAC joined forces with Al‑Talib to denounce violent attacks by pro‑Israeli agitators on the peaceful Palestine Solidarity Encampment at UCLA, where masked individuals used pepper spray, fireworks, and more to harm students. We held UCLA accountable—not only for failing to protect protestors, but for enabling aggression through selective enforcement. MPAC demanded an immediate investigation and justice for harmed students, reaffirming that campuses must defend—not abandon—free expression.
Rejecting Militarized Responses to Peaceful Protest
MPAC forcefully condemned public calls to deploy the National Guard against pro-Palestine student protesters at Columbia University. Labeling peaceful encampments as security threats endangers student safety and undermines civil liberties. We urged university leaders and elected officials to reject escalation and reaffirm their commitment to open dialogue and the First Amendment.
Upholding Academic Integrity at Occidental College
When outside voices sought to influence Occidental College’s response to pro‑Palestinian student activism, MPAC stepped in—urging the institution to resist external pressures and protect campus free speech. We emphasized that universities must uphold the principles of open academic inquiry, not bow to politicized intimidation. Through strategic advocacy and public engagement, MPAC reinforced that academic freedom must be preserved—even under scrutiny.