UC Berkeley shares names of pro-Palestine academics in government crackdown

The University of California, Berkeley have shared the names of around 160 students, faculty and staff with the US government to address alleged "antisemitic" activities. However, the academics believe it is because of their advocacy for Palestinian human rights.

The email was sent out on 4 September to inform those whose names had been shared with the government as a courtesy to inform them of the move. It is difficult to know if other universities have provided the US government with their personal details without informing them.

Sent by David Robinson, the university’s top attorney, it said that the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights needed information on those allegedly involved in antisemitism.

"As part of its investigation, OCR required production of comprehensive documents, including files and reports related to alleged antisemitic incidents," the email read.

"This notice is to inform you that, as required by law and as per directions provided by the UC systemwide Office of General Counsel (OGC), your name was included in reports as part of the documents provided by OGC to OCR for its investigation on August 18, 2025," the email continued.

Per the email, it appears that the university waited over two weeks to inform the academics that they had shared their personal information with the US government.

The names of those contacted have not been made public, making it difficult for them to organise or compare notes, for fear of exposing themselves or others to further targeting. It is believed that some are international students on student visas.

Several people have spoken out about receiving the emails, including Judith Butler, a professor of philosophy, Ussama Makdisi, a history professor, and Peyrin Kao, a computer science lecturer.

Kao, who is currently on hunger strike in support of Gaza, told The New Arab that he was not informed why his name was chosen, was not given any guidance on what to do, and was not offered any support from the university administration. He says he has not heard anything from the university administration since the initial email.

"My suspicion, given the general timing of this investigation, is that this is actually a retaliation for me being outspoken about Palestine previously," he said, while sitting at a table with other pro-Palestinian advocates in a campus courtyard on a sunny day.

"In 2023, I talked about Palestine to some of my students and talking about how it was an ongoing genocide and tech students have a responsibility to pay attention and think about where our work is going. And that, I think, made me a target because I was one of the few people in the department to be outspoken about this issue," he said.

"UC says that they're a bastion of free speech and that they stand up for inclusivity, and they stand up for academic freedom, but when it comes to the Palestine issue, they're basically on the same side as [US President Donald] Trump," Kao said.

"We see this the way they crack down on protests," he said. He noted that though UC Berkeley has a reputation for being at the forefront of free speech, much of it can be attributed to student-led activism that initially faced resistance by the university administration.

"We don't want our tax dollars or our tuition or our labour going towards these horrific images of the genocide we're seeing. The only way the Trump administration or UC Berkeley can continue to support the genocide is to try to shut us up and chill our speech. This is why it’s so important to speak out," he said.

While sitting at the table, a student walked up to Kao and said, "I just want to say I saw your video on YouTube and I really admire your courage."

UC Berkeley is ranked among the top universities in the world. Like many academic institutions, it has faced pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on pro-Palestinian activism. However, the US is currently seeing an exodus of academics, mainly due to the US government's hostility towards foreigners and campus activism and expression.

"We do so many things wrong in this country. But up until this point, universities have been good," David Frank, a professor of rhetoric and political communication at the University of Oregon, told TNA. "One reason our universities are so good is because of their commitment to free speech. When the government chills free speech, it undercuts that."