FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2024
press@mpac.org
MPAC, CAIR-LA, & Partners to Hold Press Conference Demanding Accountability for Assault on UCLA Protesters and an End to the Crackdown on Student Speech and Activism at UCLA
Los Angeles, CA – In response to the escalating pattern of impunity surrounding violence against peaceful protesters, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), in partnership with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Los Angeles (CAIR-LA), will hold a joint press conference on Friday, April 25, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at Van Nuys City Hall. This press conference will highlight the lack of tangible actions from our elected officials to hold the numerous members of the violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian student protesters at UCLA on April 30, 2024, accountable.
The press conference will also highlight the ongoing crackdown on student speech and activism at UCLA and the failure of UCLA to take actionable steps to protect its Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students, as well as to protect the diverse group of anti-genocide student protestors.
Nearly one year after the incident, despite widespread public outcry and conclusive video evidence documenting the violent attack, no perpetrator of the violent mob attack has been held accountable by various local public institutions and elected officials. The statute of limitations on filing charges expires April 30, 2025.
This violent assault, which left multiple students seriously injured and traumatized, represents more than an isolated incident. It is a test of our city’s commitment to justice, accountability, and the fundamental rights of individuals to peacefully protest without fear of retaliation. Failing to act sends a dangerous signal: that politically motivated violence, even when documented and publicly condemned, may go unpunished.
This press conference will highlight the urgency of the moment and underscore the broader implications for the safety, civil liberties, and public trust in legal institutions across Los Angeles at a time when marginalized communities across our county are under attack
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Event Details:
Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
Time: 9am – 10:am PST
Location: Van Nuys City Hall
14410 Sylvan St # 215
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Speakers:
Rebecca Husaini, Vice President of Operations and Administration, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
Amr Shabaik, Esq., Legal Director, CAIR-LA
Estee Chandler, Jewish Voice for Peace, (JVP) Action
Umar Hakim-Dey, Founder, Inkerij
Hedab Tarifi, Palestinian-American
Najee Ali, Project Islamic Hope
Mark Kleiman, Attorney, Kleiman Rajaram
Islamic Shura Council of Southern California
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About MPAC
Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is a national public affairs nonprofit working to promote and strengthen American pluralism by increasing understanding and improving policies that impact American Muslims. Over the past 37 years, MPAC has built a reputation of being a dynamic and trusted American Muslim voice for policymakers, opinion shapers, and community organizers across the country.
Media Contact
Blake Wood, MPAC Communications Director, (843) 696-8161 or press@mpac.org