Official Blog | UCGPC

The University of California Graduate and Professional Council (UCGPC), the official representative body of the UC Graduate and Professional student community, calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. UCGPC is deeply committed to upholding the values of free speech, political belief, and academic inquiry. As the UC is an institution of higher learning, we recognize the crucial importance of these principles, particularly when tackling complex and contentious issues like the recurring violence in Gaza.

We unequivocally denounce every instance of white supremacy and its multifaceted manifestations that target students of color at the University of California and abroad. We condemn all acts of hatred, prejudice, genocide, and bigotry and demand that white supremacy be dismantled within the University of California system. We firmly believe that everyone has the right to express their perspectives and recognize when members of the UC community have engaged in harmful speech, that it is our collective responsibility to hold our academic community to the highest of standards. Therefore, we denounce all forms of violence and intimidation against Israeli and Palestinian civilians and members of the UC Graduate and Professional student community. We reject the misguided conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, as these are two distinct concepts – one being a political stance and the other a form of prejudice against individuals based on their religion or ethnicity. 

We acknowledge the occupation of Palestinian territories as part of an extensive, longstanding settler-colonial project that currently impacts numerous Indigenous communities across the globe. This includes Native American territories unjustly taken under the pretext of colonialism, along with the lands of Pacific Islanders and indigenous peoples of Africa and Latin America. This list includes but is not exhaustive to civilians and members of the Palestinian and Israeli populations, but also includes civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other populations of color that are victims of genocide and heinous acts of terrorism perpetrated globally in the name of white supremacy. The plight we face today is a shared narrative of displacement that reverberates throughout collective histories that center on a social construct of race.

Moreover, we firmly reject the idea that political neutrality is the only valid position. While we encourage students to express their political beliefs and engage in respectful debates, we also emphasize the importance of maintaining empathy, understanding, and respect. 

In light of the ongoing conflict, we strongly advocate for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, as we believe it is the only way to ensure the safety, security, and potential for a fair and lasting peace for all in the region and our student communities at the University of California. This stance reflects our unwavering commitment to human rights, justice, and peace and our belief that all individuals should live without fear of violence and oppression.