JEWISH STUDENTS FILE CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT AGAINST U.C. DAVIS

By Bob Walsh

 

change.org: We demand that UC Davis immediately fire Jemma Decristo, Assistant Professor of American Studies, for making explicit threats targeting the Jewish people. Please ensure that Decristo is barred from campus pending her termination

 

A group of Jewish students has just filed a federal civil rights complaint against U.C. Davis for failing to take reasonable steps to protect them from hate mongers on campus.

The StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice, an international non-profit, asserts that the university has tacitly endorsed speech by employees that violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and that this endorsement has led to a toxic climate including reasonable fear of physical harm to Jewish students on campus.

The U. S. Department of Education has begun an investigation of UC Davis, among other campuses nationwide, after noting an alarming rise in antisemitism since October.  The formal probe started before Christmas.

The complaint specifically alleges that staff members blur the line between their personal beliefs and their professional duties when speaking about Israelis and Palestinians.  Specific instances of physical attacks against Jewish students are also specified.

At least one staff member, Jemma Decristo, an associate professor of American Studies, is specifically named in the complaint.  She is apparently fond of posting messages on social media that could be reasonably interpreted as threatening physical harm.