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Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org ([link removed]) | July 12, 2025 —The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) condemns Occidental College’s violent response to peaceful student protests and its continued efforts to punish pro-Palestinian students through biased and retaliatory disciplinary proceedings. What occurred on April 25, 2025, during the inauguration of President Tom Stritikus was a demonstration rooted in justice. When students protested Occidental’s refusal to condemn Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and the university’s financial investments, they were met with brutality.

Direct testimonies from students reveal a disturbing and violent response. One student recounted how private security and campus safety “pushed us down,” tore off students’ face coverings, and physically restrained protesters while smiling. Another student, who had been on a hunger strike for five days, described how Officer Charles Willis ripped off his keffiyeh, mask, and glasses before pushing him down the concrete stairs. “It was at this moment that I saw my friend with a megaphone, who was just shouting and not making any violent actions, get attacked by a guard as they violently pushed the megaphone away and then pushed my friend to the floor.”

Despite these firsthand accounts and documented injuries, Occidental College continued to shield its staff and private security from accountability and instead target three student protesters, two of whom are Black and Brown and all of whom rely on financial aid, with charges that could lead to suspension or expulsion.

The disciplinary process includes various procedural violations: denial of access to evidence, rushed hearings over Zoom without student representation, and the appointment of panel members with clear conflicts of interest. The investigation itself was led by Saul Ewing LLP, a law firm that has publicly pledged its support for Israel, further calling into question the legitimacy and neutrality of the College’s actions.

This is not just a campus conduct issue. Occidental’s actions are part of a national pattern of academic institutions cracking down on student activism for Palestine under political pressure from state actors and advocacy groups. By criminalizing peaceful protest and turning a blind eye to violence against its students, Occidental is complicit in the silencing of dissent and the erosion of academic freedom.

MPAC calls on Occidental College to immediately drop all charges against the student protesters, conduct an independent investigation into the use of force on April 25th, and adopt a restorative justice process that centers truth and accountability.
Email Occidental Administration ([link removed])

We also call on concerned community members, alumni, and the broader public to speak out and demand justice.

Email and call Occidental leadership now.

Visit @OxySJP’s ([link removed]) bio for scripts and more information:
* Office of the President, Tom Stritikus: (323) 259-2691
* Office of the Dean of Students, Vivian Garay Santiago: (323) 259-2661
* Office of Student Conduct: (323) 341-4063

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