By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -California Governor Gavin Newsom mentioned on Saturday {that a} $1 billion settlement supply by President Donald Trump’s administration for UCLA amounted to political extortion to which the state won’t bow.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
The College of California says it’s reviewing a $1 billion settlement supply by the Trump administration for UCLA after the federal government froze lots of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in funding over pro-Palestinian protests.
UCLA, which is a part of the College of California system, mentioned this week the federal government froze $584 million in funding. Trump has threatened to chop federal funds for universities over pro-Palestinian pupil protests towards U.S. ally Israel’s army assault on Gaza.
KEY QUOTES
“Donald Trump has weaponized the DOJ (Division of Justice) to kneecap America’s #1 public college system — freezing medical & science funding till @UCLA pays his $1 billion ransom,” the workplace of Newsom, a Democrat, mentioned in a publish.
“California will not bow to Trump’s disgusting political extortion,” it added.
“This is not about defending Jewish college students – it is a billion-dollar political shakedown from the pay-to-play president.”
CONTEXT
The federal government alleges universities, together with UCLA, allowed antisemitism in the course of the protests and in doing so violated Jewish and Israeli college students’ civil rights. The White Home had no instant remark past the supply.
Protesters, together with some Jewish teams, say the federal government wrongly equates their criticism of Israel’s conflict in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with assist for extremism.
Consultants have raised free speech and educational freedom considerations over the Republican president’s threats. The College of California says paying such a big settlement would “utterly devastate” the establishment.
UCLA PROTESTS AND ENVIRONMENT
Massive demonstrations occurred at UCLA final 12 months. Final week, UCLA agreed to pay over $6 million to settle a lawsuit by some college students and a professor who alleged antisemitism. It was additionally sued this 12 months over a 2024 violent mob assault on pro-Palestinian protesters.
Rights advocates have famous an increase in antisemitism, anti-Arab bias and Islamophobia as a consequence of battle within the Center East. The Trump administration has not introduced equal probes into Islamophobia.
RECENT SETTLEMENTS
The federal government has settled its probes with Columbia College, which agreed to pay over $220 million, and Brown College, which mentioned it is going to pay $50 million. Each accepted sure authorities calls for. Settlement talks with Harvard College are ongoing.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Modifying by Andrea Ricci)