A Call to Duty at UCI

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In a strongly worded letter, U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) called on the Chancellor of the University of California, Irvine (UCI), to condemn rampant anti-Semitism at events organized and sponsored by its Muslim Student Union (MSU). The letter pointed out that such an event held just weeks ago, appeared "intended to encourage violence against the State of Israel and propagate the spread of anti-Semitism."

MSU events routinely feature anti-Semitic and pro-terror figures, notably Washington D.C.-based radical cleric Mohammed al-Asi and Oakland-based Amir Abdel Malik Ali, an African American convert born Derek Gilliam. Both are known for their high level of vitriol, hatred and support for suicide bombings. The latest event, which took place from May 7 to May 15, was called "Never Again? The Palestinian Holocaust."

In his letter, Rep. Sherman explained that, "Comparing current Israeli policies to the Holocaust, the systematic murder of the Jewish people of Europe, is clearly anti-Semitic. It wholly demeans the Jewish victims of the Holocaust and vilifies the Jewish citizens of Israel." He also noted that this position is officially supported by the US government, and quoted the State Department's most recent Contemporary Global Anti-Semitism Report as proof.

Rep. Sherman also expressed concern over one of the speakers at the May event, Abdel Malik Ali, who spoke at sessions entitled, "Death to Apartheid: A Farewell to Zionism" and "Silence is Consent: Stop the Palestinian Holocaust." The letter cited a 2006 YouTube video that shows Malik Ali at a previous UCI event, where he said:

The truth of the matter is: [Israel's] days are numbered. We will fight you until we are either martyred or until we are victorious.

Unfortunately, these examples of radicalism and anti-Semitism emanating from UCI's Muslim Student Union are only a few among many. The MSU at UCI is perhaps the most radical Muslim student organization in the United States.