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ZOA wants U.S. Justice Dept investigation of U.C. Irvine
NEW YORK (Press Release)—The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has written to the U.S. Department of Justice and urged them to investigate whether the Muslim Student Union (MSU), a registered student group at the University of California, Irvine, may have illegally used the campus as a base for fundraising for the terrorist group Hamas.
In a letter sent last Friday to Eric H. Holder, Jr., the U.S. Attorney General, and George S. Cardona, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, the ZOA notified the Justice Department that on May 21, 2009, the MSU and an MSU-sponsored speaker named George Galloway, solicited funds for “Viva Palestina,” Galloway’s convoy to Gaza. The ZOA expressed concern that “the funds raised at UC Irvine may have been for the purpose of providing material support and resources to Hamas, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, in violation of the law.”
The ZOA’s report to the Justice Department followed on the heels of UC Irvine’s own representation that it had reported the conduct of the MSU and George Galloway to law enforcement officials. After the ZOA brought the fundraising and other related concerns to the attention of Diane Geocaris, UC Irvine’s Chief Campus Counsel and Associate General Counsel, Ms. Geocaris responded by letter dated September 30, 2009. She stated that “UC Irvine takes very seriously allegations of wrongdoing. We appreciate your [the ZOA] bringing this to our attention.” Ms. Geocaris represented that “the University has referred th[e] matter to law enforcement officials for action as they deem appropriate.” In addition, the University has also “initiated an internal review.”
In the ZOA’s letter to the Justice Department, the ZOA urged that the Department scrutinize not only the conduct of the MSU and George Galloway, but also the conduct of UC Irvine officials. The ZOA asserted that “UC Irvine officials knew or should have known that the MSU’s solicitation of funds had not been approved by the University. But at least four University officials were present at the Galloway event. Not one of them put a stop to the solicitation of funds, or apparently, saw fit to report the misconduct to senior University officials.”
The ZOA offered the Justice Department videotaped footage from the event at UC Irvine showing the solicitation of funds for Viva Palestina. In addition, the ZOA said that there were several witnesses to the solicitation who are willing to come forward.
Morton A. Klein, the ZOA’s National President, and Susan B. Tuchman, Esq., the director of the ZOA’s Center for Law and Justice, expressed confidence that the Justice Department would investigate this troubling incident at UC Irvine:
“Particularly since the Islamist terrorist attacks on 9/11, fighting terrorism is every American’s responsibility. That includes ensuring that our colleges and universities are not used in any way to promote U.S.-designated terrorist groups like Hamas who have murdered and maimed so many innocent people. We are gratified that UC Irvine has itself moved expeditiously on this matter by reporting it to law enforcement and instituting an internal probe. If the solicitation of funds at UC Irvine last May was for the purpose of supporting Hamas, then to protect the public’s trust and the safety of Hamas’ intended victims, the wrongdoers must be held accountable.”
Rubenstein family offers scholarships for S.D. Jews
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—Jewish Family Service reports that "a generous member of our community, Dr. Robert Rubenstein, has established a scholarship program for residents of the San Diego Jewish community who plan to attend college, graduate school or a vocational school.
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The Rubenstein Family Scholarship Program offers financial assistance for post-secondary education to qualified
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students who are residents of the San Diego Jewish community.
Each year the program will grant approximately 10 - 15 scholarships of up to $2,500 to applicants who meet the criteria of: financial need, student financial contribution, academic performance, and community involvement.
By clicking on the respective words, readers may download the policy statement (includes eligibility criteria) and the application.
Hate group will picket 29 sites
in San Diego, ADL cautions
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)—
The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is planning four days of demonstrations at 29 locations in San Diego County next week starting October 16.
The WBC regularly stages protests around the country, often several times a week, against institutions and individuals they think support homosexuality or otherwise subvert what they believe is God's law. Targets include schools the group deems to be accepting of homosexuality; Catholic, Lutheran, and other Christian denominations that the WBC feels are heretical; and funerals for people murdered or killed in accidents like plane crashes. Since 2005, WBC has been protesting at funerals for American soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While anti-Semitism has always been part of their philosophy and they have protested Jewish institutions over the years, they were not a major focus of the group until April 2009. Since then, the WBC has targeted dozens of Jewish institutions around the country, distributing anti-Semitic fliers to announce planned protests at these sites.
Based in Topeka Kansas, WBC considers itself an “Old School” Baptist Church. Many WBC congregants are related to its leader Fred Phelps by blood; and his wife, several of his children and dozens of his grandchildren appear to constitute the majority of its members. WBC has no official affiliation with mainstream Baptist organizations.
The primary goal of the group appears to be garnering publicity for itself and its message. For this reason, the group directs its efforts at events that have attracted heavy news coverage, like the deaths of soldiers killed in wars or the victims of well publicized accidents, or at venues, such as high schools, that often attract large counter-protests, which themselves generate increased media coverage.
If you would like any additional information about this group please contact Morris Casuto at (619) 293-3770 or (619) 249-7856, or e-mail mcasuto@adl.org.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.
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