UC Merced professor calls for ‘dezionization’ of University of California

Sean Malloy, a history and critical race and ethnic studies professor at UC Merced, has proposed the establishment of “People’s Tribunals” to achieve the “dezionization” of the University of California system.

Malloy argues that Zionism acts as a “driving force behind many of the external and internal threats to the UC and its faculty, staff, and students.” His proposal for dezionization includes ending the university’s complicity in the actions of the Israeli state through divestment and terminating formal research or teaching collaborations with Israeli-linked entities.

The proposed tribunals would aim to document the university’s alleged complicity with the Israeli state and its internal repression of anti-Zionist dissidents. Malloy suggests these forums could include representatives from Palestinian universities to provide recommendations on how the UC system might atone for the destruction of academic institutions and the loss of life among Palestinian students and faculty.