Berkeley, the birthplace of the free speech movement, is now ironically silencing voices faster than you can say “problematic”.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) just dropped a truth bomb on UC Berkeley, labeling the campus “hostile” for systematically shutting down pro-Palestinian perspectives. Talk about a plot twist for a university that once championed radical activism.

The Suppression Situation

Let’s break down the receipts: UC Berkeley suspended a Palestine studies course in 2016, arrested community members protesting for Palestinian rights in 2024, and updated free speech policies right after students started Gaza solidarity encampments. Subtle? Not exactly.

By the Numbers

A CAIR-California report revealed something even more damning: 85% of Muslim students at UC Berkeley experienced Islamophobic harassment. That’s the highest percentage among 87 campuses surveyed - and definitely not the kind of ranking any institution wants to win.

The Hypocrisy Highlight

CAIR research specialist Maryam Hasan didn’t mince words, calling out university leaders for being “cowardly” and “complicit in injustice” by disciplining students demanding human rights. UC Berkeley’s spokesperson claims an “unwavering commitment to free speech,” but the evidence suggests otherwise.

With 28 other universities also labeled “hostile,” it’s clear this isn’t just a Berkeley problem - it’s a systemic issue of silencing marginalized voices when they challenge the status quo.