UCLA School of Law Under Fire for Alleged Discrimination
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law is facing allegations of discrimination after reports surfaced claiming that administrators threatened to take disciplinary action against conservative groups that attempted to identify protesters disrupting recent events.
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has stepped in, sending a letter to the university urging officials to retract what they call threats to the rights of members from the Federalist Association.
This controversy emerged following an event on April 21 featuring James Percival, the General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). During this lecture, over 150 protesters protested vocally, using derogatory language and even issuing death threats.
Emails obtained in April revealed that UCLA’s Assistant Dean of Students, Bylex Marti, warned Federalist Society President Matthew Weinberg against identifying the demonstrators involved.
Marti expressed concerns about online calls to expose students seen in video recordings. In one email, she recommended that organizers keep such details private to avoid potential backlash.
She cautioned that if names were disclosed and those individuals faced online harassment, the Federation could be held responsible for “reasonably foreseeable” outcomes.
Marti elaborated that sharing that information could lead to accusations against student organizations if incidents arose from the publicized names.
Jesse Appleby of FIRE noted that students participating in public events have no reasonable expectation of privacy. He stated that while online criticism can be harsh, UCLA shouldn’t limit protected speech just to shield protesters from the repercussions of their actions.
FIRE also criticized UCLA for what they perceive as a double standard, claiming that members of the Federalist Society are being stifled while the protesters are free to mock and identify them online.
In a recent statement, UCLA administrators defended the handling of the event, stressing that it was aligned with values of free speech and academic freedom.
They asserted that this student-organized occurrence demonstrated these principles in action, working with safety offices to ensure the event’s execution and the open exchange of ideas.
During the lecture, attendees booed Percival, labeled him a “Nazi,” and waved signs with aggressive messages. Percival remarked in an interview that the experience was “not fun,” acknowledging the threats he and his colleagues face daily just for doing their jobs.
A spokesperson for UCLA School of Law reaffirmed their commitment to the First Amendment, mentioning that they had received the letter and plan to respond.
