Hate crime investigation launched in connection to protest over Israeli speaker at UC Berkeley

(KRON) — A criminal investigation has been launched in connection to a protest at University of California, Berkeley last week at an event featuring a speaker from Israel. In a statement published Monday to the school’s public affairs page, university leaders slammed the protest as “unacceptable.”

According to the statement, which was attributed to UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Ben Hermalin, two Jewish students who organized the event were subjected to “overtly antisemitic expression.”

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The UC Berkeley Police Department is investigating those incidents as hate crimes. There are also allegations of physical battery against the students, according to the statement. Campus police are investigating other reports of illegal conduct, including an additional allegation of physical battery.

The investigation has identified one criminal suspect who campus leaders say was trespassing. Additionally, the university’s Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination has opened a separate discrimination investigation.

The incident in question took place last Monday, Feb. 26. A speaker from Israel had been invited to speak by student organizations. Before the event started, a crowd of 200 protesters surrounded the building.

According to the university, doors were broken open and protesters gained unauthorized entry to the building. The event was subsequently canceled and the building was evacuated “to protect the speaker and members of the audience,” school officials said.

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