Upcoming SJP Conference at UCLA

"Radical Hope: Resistance in the Face of Adversity."

Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA is scheduled to host the 2018 national SJP conference November 16-18.

Imagine that. Brown shirts from all over the nation will be converging on Los Angeles to figure out a way to topple the Jewish state of Israel. What is a bit unclear is whether the conference will be held on the UCLA campus or some other site in LA. Also unknown at this point is who the "distinguished" speakers will be.

Several Jewish groups, who accuse SJP of being anti-semitic, have expressed concern over such an event being held on campus. As recently as last month, UCLA indicated that the event would be allowed on campus. One UCLA student, Justin Feldman, spoke out against the event before the UC Board of Regents.

If the event is held on campus, I expect that while there may be peaceful protests outside, it will not be disrupted. That is what SJP does. It is not what pro-Israel groups do. I myself do not believe in disrupting the events of those I disagree with. I trust that pro-Israel and Jewish groups will hold whatever protests they decide to do in a non-disruptive manner. That would be an important lesson for other UCLA students as to which side acts in a civil manner.

Having said all that, this is an embarrassment for UCLA. SJP, as I have said countless times, is an organization that uses tactics of disruption and intimidation. In my view, no respectable university should allow an SJP chapter on its campus let alone host a national conference.