🚨 UC Davis Seizes $40K and Shuts Down Law Student Group Over Israel Boycott

UC Davis just made a move that’s raising serious alarm bells: the university dissolved its Law Students Association (LSA) and seized $40,000 of student funds — all because the group passed a resolution to boycott Israel over its ongoing occupation and genocide in Gaza.

Let’s break it down ⬇️

🧑‍⚖️ What Did the Law Students Do?

On February 28, the UC Davis LSA democratically voted to implement an academic and fiscal boycott of Israel, aligning with the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The resolution included:

• Blocking funds for speakers tied to Israeli government or universities.
• Prohibiting spending on brands complicit in Israel’s apartheid — including Intel, Disney+, McDonald’s, and Burger King.
• Standing in solidarity with Palestine and protesting Israel’s war crimes.

This was a student-led, peaceful, rights-based action.

🚫 UC Davis Says: Shut It Down

Instead of respecting the students’ decision, UC Davis:

• Suspended the Law Students Association
• Seized $40,000 in student funds
• Claimed the vote violated “viewpoint-neutral” policy
• Called the boycott “discriminatory”

This is a chilling crackdown on free speech and peaceful protest — and it echoes similar suppression of Palestine solidarity on campuses across the U.S.

🧵 The Bigger Picture: Silencing Palestine Solidarity

This isn’t an isolated incident.

UC Davis is:

• One of dozens of U.S. universities currently under federal investigation for alleged “antisemitism” — often conflated with criticism of Israel.
• Facing pressure from pro-Israel lobby groups and political figures to shut down any pro-Palestinian organizing.

But let's be clear: boycotting an apartheid state is not hate. It's how movements for justice have always fought back — from South Africa to Palestine.

🧑‍⚖️ Students Push Back

In response, the UC Davis chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, who authored the resolution, said:

“We are appalled to see UC Davis use its power to disempower students’ collective action.”

And they’re not alone. 18 student groups have already signed on in support — and growing.

🌍 Why It Matters

This is about more than a student resolution.

It’s about:

• Criminalizing dissent
• Shutting down Palestine solidarity
• And setting a dangerous precedent for university censorship

Students have every right to organize, protest, and demand their institutions stop funding genocide.

🧷 What You Can Do

✅ Share this story — don’t let UC Davis bury it.
✅ Demand the reinstatement of LSA and return of student funds.
✅ Use tools like Boycat to find brands and schools complicit in apartheid.
✅ Keep speaking out. No institution should get away with silencing justice.

📢 Free speech doesn’t end where Palestine begins.