Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Some UC Regents Sit Down with Pro-Palestinian Protesters at UC Merced
the_merced_focus
By The Merced Focus
Published 11 months ago on
May 17, 2024

UC Regents engage in a dialogue with pro-Palestinian protesters, discussing divestment from Israel and companies funding the Gaza Strip war. (KVPR/Rachel Livinal)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The third and final day of the University of California Board of Regents meeting Thursday at UC Merced was highlighted by a sit-down between several trustees and pro-Palestinian protesters.

Profile Picture
Rachel Livinal

The Merced FOCUS

 

Author Profile Picture
Victor A. Patton

The Merced FOCUS

The members of the board – Greg Sarris, Joel Raznick, Jose Hernandez, Keith Ellis, Student Regent Designate Josiah Beharry and Student Regent Merhawi Tesfai – met with the protesters at their encampment.

There were two meetings between trustees and protesters Thursday. The first was cut short after outside agitators not affiliated with the encampment disrupted the meeting. A second meeting happened a few hours later without interruption.

The regents were asked questions by Jeneen Barakat, one of the UC Merced students who has been at the forefront of the campus’s pro-Palestinian movement since last year.

A Demand for Divestment

One of the protesters’ top demands is for the UC system to divest from Israel and companies that fund the war in the Gaza Strip.

Regent Hernandez reminded the group that any decision would have to come from the entire board, saying he and the other trustees were speaking at the gathering as individuals.

While he didn’t agree to divesting from the companies funding or profiting from the war, Hernandez committed to reading a list of the companies and making an informed decision.

“This is a process that doesn’t appear overnight,” Hernandez said. “I do believe through financial pressure that we get to change the behavior of countries, and companies will put the pressure on countries so that we stop this conflict that’s occurring right now.”

A Demand for Statement Condemning Palestinian Deaths

One of the most tense moments to happen during Thursday’s second meeting came when the regents were asked whether they would release a statement condemning the deaths of thousands of Palestinians as genocide.

Raznick said he didn’t believe there would be agreement among the regents on such a request. “I think it’s a terrible situation that needs to stop and change, but I don’t know that I would define it as genocide,” Raznick said.

Some among the protesters expressed displeasure with that answer. “Wow,” responded one of the members of the group.

A few responded with laughter, in amazement at Raznick’s answer. “Hey, hey, let’s be respectful. We did not laugh at you,” Regent Ellis responded.

Barakat, who remained calm and composed throughout the question and answer session, told Ellis she did not laugh, though she did express disappointment.

“It is disheartening to the students to hear you guys diminish the power and the advocacy that you could be doing, that you could be using, to advocate for such an important matter,” Barakat said.

Hernandez thought the statement wouldn’t do much, saying they should focus their efforts on different actions.

“I think instead of spending our energy on putting some words together to bring out to the press…what we should be spending our energy on is changing policy and changing policy because that’s the dollars,” Hernandez said. “That’s what’s going to motivate people to say, ‘Hey, we’ve got to stop doing this.’ It’s affecting their bottom line.”

Regents also asked if students would be willing to meet with administration to negotiate. Students have been hesitant, remaining steadfast on their decision to keep all discussions public at the encampment.

“You gave us a chance by inviting us here,” Ellis said. “Give them a chance, please. We’re just asking you to listen to them. Nothing else. You don’t have to decide anything. Just come back with us and listen to what they have to say.”

The session ultimately ended with the regents shaking hands with the group. The protesters then began chanting “end the attack on students now” as the two groups parted ways.

Controversial Resolution Remains Unresolved

The board on Thursday had been scheduled to discuss a proposal to prohibit faculty and staff from posting personal or collective opinions on university departmental websites.

The item, which had already been tabled previously, was put off once again by the regents Thursday.

UC Merced student protesters have said the action would censor staff from voicing opinions or facts involving the war on the Gaza Strip. Regents said the item will be brought back in July.

No Arrests Made During Regents Protests

The three day regents meeting, the first ever held at UC Merced, was marked by a few tense moments – though there were no instances of violence and no arrests were made, university officials confirmed.

On Wednesday, some protesters were escorted out of the afternoon session of the meeting by law enforcement after they began yelling for their voices to be heard.

Wednesday was also marked by an increase of more than 100 protesters at the encampment. Many of those individuals traveled from other parts of the state, including the Bay Area.

About the Authors

 

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Rams Take Oregon Tight End Terrance Ferguson in Second Round After Trading Out of First

DON'T MISS

The Latest: Francis Is Remembered as a ‘Pope Among the People’ as He Is Laid to Rest

DON'T MISS

ICE Is Reversing the Termination of Legal Status for International Students Around the US

DON'T MISS

Trump Is a Revolutionary. Will He Succeed or Fail?

DON'T MISS

Trump Now Doubts Putin Wants to End Ukraine War, a Day After Saying a Deal Was Close

DON'T MISS

We Need Proof of Life for the Makeup Artist Trump Sent to El Salvador

DON'T MISS

Fresno Elderly Woman Evicted, Forced to Leave Dogs Behind. One Still Needs a Home.

DON'T MISS

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

DON'T MISS

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

DON'T MISS

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

UP NEXT

The Latest: Francis Is Remembered as a ‘Pope Among the People’ as He Is Laid to Rest

UP NEXT

ICE Is Reversing the Termination of Legal Status for International Students Around the US

UP NEXT

Trump Is a Revolutionary. Will He Succeed or Fail?

UP NEXT

Trump Now Doubts Putin Wants to End Ukraine War, a Day After Saying a Deal Was Close

UP NEXT

We Need Proof of Life for the Makeup Artist Trump Sent to El Salvador

UP NEXT

Fresno Elderly Woman Evicted, Forced to Leave Dogs Behind. One Still Needs a Home.

UP NEXT

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

UP NEXT

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

UP NEXT

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

UP NEXT

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

Trump Is a Revolutionary. Will He Succeed or Fail?

2 hours ago

Trump Now Doubts Putin Wants to End Ukraine War, a Day After Saying a Deal Was Close

2 hours ago

We Need Proof of Life for the Makeup Artist Trump Sent to El Salvador

2 hours ago

Fresno Elderly Woman Evicted, Forced to Leave Dogs Behind. One Still Needs a Home.

3 hours ago

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

14 hours ago

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

17 hours ago

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

18 hours ago

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

18 hours ago

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

18 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

18 hours ago

Rams Take Oregon Tight End Terrance Ferguson in Second Round After Trading Out of First

The Los Angeles Rams selected Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday n...

9 minutes ago

Rams
9 minutes ago

Rams Take Oregon Tight End Terrance Ferguson in Second Round After Trading Out of First

51 minutes ago

The Latest: Francis Is Remembered as a ‘Pope Among the People’ as He Is Laid to Rest

1 hour ago

ICE Is Reversing the Termination of Legal Status for International Students Around the US

2 hours ago

Trump Is a Revolutionary. Will He Succeed or Fail?

2 hours ago

Trump Now Doubts Putin Wants to End Ukraine War, a Day After Saying a Deal Was Close

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 23, 2025. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
2 hours ago

We Need Proof of Life for the Makeup Artist Trump Sent to El Salvador

After a Fresno woman was evicted and her home padlocked, her four dogs were left behind — and now the last one, a loyal German shepherd named Ginger, is waiting for a new home. (Mell's Mutts)
3 hours ago

Fresno Elderly Woman Evicted, Forced to Leave Dogs Behind. One Still Needs a Home.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre speaks to reporters in New York on Aug. 27, 2019. Giuffre, a former victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring who said she was “passed around like a platter of fruit” as a teenager to rich and powerful predators, including Prince Andrew of Britain, died on Friday at her farm in Western Australia. She was 41. (Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times)
14 hours ago

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend