California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, and other state officials running to replace him after his term is up issued statements Wednesday afternoon following anti-Israel protests at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of California, Berkeley.
“The right to free speech does not extend to inciting violence, vandalism, or lawlessness on campus,” Newsom wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Newsom continued his statement, vowing that anyone who participated in “lawlessness” would be held accountable.
“I condemn the violence at UCLA last night. The law is clear: The right to free speech does not extend to inciting violence, vandalism, or lawlessness on campus. Those who engage in illegal behavior must be held accountable for their actions – including through criminal prosecution, suspension, or expulsion.”
VIDEO SHOWS ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTERS BLOCK JEWISH STUDENT FROM GETTING TO CLASS; UCLA RESPONDS
Newsom’s office released a statement on the campus protests. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The governor was asked about the demonstrations during a news conference on a different topic on Tuesday, when he said he and other state officials were “working with the [UC] trustees,” according to KNBC.
“We want to maintain the right to protest without any hate,” Newsom said.
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalaskis also released a statement following the protests, echoing Newsom’s stern warning.
“Recent days and months have been enormously challenging for our public and private universities in California and across the nation, but what happened last night on UCLA’s campus was appalling and heartbreaking,” Koualakis wrote in a post on X. “The right to exercise freedom of expression and to protest nonviolently is essential to our democracy.
“While many have been peaceful in their activism, the actions and language of some have been shocking and abhorrent, creating an environment where students feel threatened and unsafe on our campuses. Hate speech, violence, and destruction of school property stand in sharp contrast to our values and have no place on our campuses.”