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Statements and Commentaries

We welcome all thoughtful, informed and reasoned comments to our departmental statements. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of all members of the Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Department, the Regents of the University of California, or the University of California, Santa Cruz.

    October 4, 2024

  • Public Statement to Protect Campus Speech and Academic Freedom

    We publicly condemn the UC leadership’s adoption of policies that criminalize our right to teach, write, and research the truth about Palestine. We publicly condemn directives that limit our rights to free speech and expression on behalf of Palestinian liberation with threats of censure or retaliation.

    We express our commitment to supporting and affirming students, staff, and faculty experiencing anti-Palestinian racism and Zionist suppression, policing, surveillance, badgering, and punitive assaults. We defend academic freedom without intimidation, censure, or reprisal. We call on the UC administration to cease their ongoing bullying, disciplining, and criminalization of campus activism for a free Palestine.

    • May 2, 2024

  • UCSC Faculty for Justice in Palestine in Support of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment

    The UCSC chapter of Faculty for Justice in Palestine unequivocally supports the UCSC student encampment calling for the end to the U.S.-backed Israeli genocide in Palestine; for UCSC’s full disclosure of all investments in and dividends and grants from Israeli and warmaking industries, and for full divestment from the military industrial complex.

    • November 9, 2023

  • Shut It Down for Palestine

    The department will be observing the November 9 all-day sit-in at the base of campus. Skip school and work. Do not look away from the genocide. No business as usual! Education, food, art, vigil and ofrenda, and more.

    • October 23, 2023

  • Calls for Academic Institutions to End Genocide against Palestinians

    We call on everyone—including scholars, researchers, organizers, and administrators worldwide —to act now to end Israel’s genocidal attack on Gaza.

    • October 20, 2023

  • Call for a Global General Strike

    As a department, we are observing the Palestinian-led Global General Strike and will not conduct university business as usual on 10/20/23.

    • October 11, 2023

  • CRES Statement of Support for the Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism

    We condemn the recent public attacks, the institutional backlash, and the campaigns of harassment against organizers from the Institute for the Critical Study of Zionism (ICSZ). The study of Zionism in the context of power is more imperative than ever.

    • November 16, 2022

  • CRES Faculty Letter in Support of UAW Strikes

    The CRES faculty has released a letter in support of the ongoing UAW strikes. Read the full statement by following the link.

    • November 16, 2022

  • UC Ethnic Studies Council Letter in Support of UAW Strikes

    The UC Ethnic Studies Faculty Council has drafted a letter in support of the ongoing UAW strikes across the UCs. Read the full letter by following the link.

    • May 6, 2022

  • Statement in Support of the UC A-G Ethnic Studies Requirement

    The CRES Department supports the UC A-G Ethnic Studies requirement, as drafted by experts in the field, which centers what has historically been marginalized in traditional curricula: namely, the lived experiences of Native peoples and communities of color, their epistemologies, and their struggles within and against systems of colonialism and racism.

    • April 4, 2022

  • CRES Supports the "Students for Sustaining Black Wellness" Referendum

    Read the CRES Department's statement of support for the Black Student Union (BSU) and African American Theatre Arts Troupe (AATAT) referendum on Black Student Wellness.

    • May 15, 2021

  • CRES Statement of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on Nakba Day

    CRES stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Please see our statement issued May 15th, Nakba Day.

    • February 21, 2020

  • Why Nick Mitchell Is Returning the Chancellor’s Achievement Award for Diversity

    Professor Nick Mitchell shares why he returned his Chancellor's Achievement Award for Diversity and expresses solidarity with the COLA campaign.

    • February 10, 2020

  • CRES Solidarity Statement with COLA Campaign

    CRES faculty stands behind striking graduate students and their fight for a cost of living increase.

    • January 4, 2019

  • CRES Faculty Condemn Recent Police Violence against Student Protesters

    CRES principal faculty sent a letter to Napolitano, Blumental, and Tromp as a response to the violence UCPD brought upon students on Friday, November 16, 2018.

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