Professors arrested for blocking SF’s Bay Bridge in anti-Israel protest
San Francisco State University ‘social justice educator’ Rayan El-Amine compares Israel’s supporters to white supremacists
Professors at several prestigious California universities, including one who equates Israel’s supporters with white supremacists, were arrested during the notorious San Francisco protest that resulted in anti-Israel demonstrators shutting down the Bay Bridge. Documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon reveal this information.
On November 16, the police arrested approximately 80 protesters who abandoned their vehicles and blocked westbound traffic on the bridge. This stunt caused significant delays and led to the cancellation of at least one surgery after three organ transplant couriers were trapped in the chaos. Among those arrested was Rayan El-Amine, a self-proclaimed “social justice educator” who teaches in San Francisco State University’s “Race and Resistance Studies” department. El-Amine was arrested alongside Sarah Fathallah, an instructor at the University of California, Berkeley, who boasts her involvement in ”abolitionist and anarchist organizing.”
These arrests highlight the increasing number of illegal anti-Israel demonstrations occurring on college campuses nationwide, demonstrations that professors have encouraged and even helped organize. For instance, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, lecturer Rachel Weber, who specializes in “abolition theory,” provided legal support and distributed $1,000 in bail money to student protesters who advocated for terrorism against Israelis and hurled insults at police officers, including telling them to “kill yourself.” These protesters trespassed near the chancellor’s office during an October 25 “sit-in” demonstration, resulting in their arrest.
El-Amine has a similar track record of anti-Israel activism. Prior to joining San Francisco State’s faculty, El-Amine served as the director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center in San Francisco, a group that expressed support for Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack on Israel by applauding the “revolutionary roots of Palestinian liberation.” In a now-deleted Facebook post on October 29, the professor compared supporters of the Jewish state to white supremacists, stating, “White supremacy in this country is so closely tied to supporting Zionism.”
“It will be consumed like [a] blockbuster movie with the ‘good guys’ (US and Israelis) obliterating the eternally evil Arabs,” El-Amine wrote. “It is this deeply colonial and racist repertoire that we have had to endure for decades.” El-Amine has also accused both Israel and the United States of genocide and claimed that Gazans are “trapped in a concentration camp.”
Meanwhile, Fathallah delivered a presentation on “Pro-Palestinian Anarchism” at an August 2022 “Anarchist Studies Conference.” In her presentation, Fathallah argued that anarchists can indeed support the “struggle for Palestinian liberation.”
“This presentation argues that it is indeed possible to hold a pro-Palestinian anarchist political project,” Fathallah wrote, “when that project is situated in a plural and solidaristic understanding of anarchism; a decolonial and Indigenous critique of anarchism; and a nuanced commitment to Palestinian resistance and liberation.” Fathallah teaches “service design and UX research courses” at Berkeley’s extension school, according to her LinkedIn and online bio.
El-Amine, Fathallah, and San Francisco State did not respond to requests for comment. Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof stated that Fathallah and other university employees “have the same rights and responsibilities as any other member of the public” and “do not speak for or represent the values, perspectives, or positions of the university.”
“When laws are broken, we trust that the appropriate law enforcement agencies and the judicial system will respond accordingly,” Mogulof said. “I am precluded by California state law from providing any information about personnel actions involving specific employees.”
In addition to El-Amine and Fathallah, Stanford University physics professor Lauren Tompkins was also arrested at the Bay Bridge protest but claimed she was on her way to work and should not have been detained. The California Highway Patrol confirmed the identities of the arrestees, who were booked for crimes such as unlawful assembly, failure to disperse, and illegal solicitation.
During the morning commute, protest participants descended on the bridge, stopped their cars, and formed a human chain between vehicles. After halting traffic, some protesters lay down on the bridge under white sheets and displayed a banner calling for an Israeli ceasefire. Another banner accused Israel of genocide.
California Highway Patrol division chief Ezery Beauchamp condemned the demonstration, describing it as “100 percent wrong,” “unacceptable,” and “illegal.” The stunt prevented emergency vehicles from crossing the bridge for hours, and at least three couriers delivering organs for transplant surgeries were stuck in the traffic, resulting in the cancellation of at least one surgery, according to San Francisco’s ABC affiliate.
“This is the wrong way to do it,” Beauchamp said.
What are the consequences of comparing Israel’s supporters to white supremacists in terms of delegitimizing the Jewish state and undermining its right to self-defense?
Ce learning” at UC Berkeley and often incorporates radical politics into her courses.
These professors’ involvement in illegal and extremist demonstrations raises concerns about the politicization of academia and the erosion of intellectual diversity on college campuses. Instead of fostering open dialogue and critical thinking, these educators are using their positions of authority to promote a one-sided narrative and extremist ideologies.
The comparison of Israel’s supporters to white supremacists is not only inflammatory but also baseless. It is a reckless attempt to delegitimize the Jewish state and undermine its right to self-defense. Such rhetoric demonizes and ostracizes individuals who legitimately support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself against terrorism.
Furthermore, the participation of these professors in acts of civil disobedience, including blocking traffic and causing disruptions, is deeply concerning. It demonstrates a disregard for the rule of law and a lack of respect for the rights and safety of others. Instead of engaging in productive and constructive activism, they are resorting to disruptive tactics that harm innocent bystanders and result in unnecessary chaos.
The role of professors should be to educate, inspire critical thinking, and encourage respectful dialogue. However, these individuals are using their positions to advance personal agendas and indoctrinate students with their own radical beliefs. This undermines the integrity of the educational system and creates an environment where diverse perspectives are suppressed.
It is essential for universities and academic institutions to address this issue seriously. They must ensure that professors uphold the principles of intellectual diversity, respect for different viewpoints, and adherence to the law. Failure to do so not only damages the reputation of the institution but also deprives students of a truly balanced and enriching educational experience.
In conclusion, the arrest of these professors during the San Francisco protest reflects a troubling trend of radicalism and extremism on college campuses. The politicization of academia and the suppression of intellectual diversity are detrimental to the pursuit of knowledge and the development of critical thinking skills. It is crucial for universities to take appropriate action to promote an inclusive and respectful learning environment, where all students are exposed to a wide range of perspectives and can engage in meaningful dialogue.
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