A congratulatory dinner held at the home of UC Berkeley School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky was disrupted when a pro-Palestinian student started a heated speech about the Israel-Hamas war and refused to leave. The incident occurred during a dinner for soon-to-be law school graduates in Chemerinsky’s backyard. Malak Afaneh, a Palestinian American law student who is co-president of Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine, attempted to give a speech about the people killed in Gaza due to the war. Video footage of the confrontation shows the student calling for the university to divest from corporations involved in Israel’s war, while Chemerinsky and his wife repeatedly asked her to leave.
During the altercation, Afaneh was reading from her phone when Fisk, Chemerinsky’s wife, tried to grab the student’s phone and microphone. Fisk told Afaneh to leave, stating that the house was not hers. Chemerinsky also asked the students to leave, but Afaneh argued that it was her First Amendment right to speak. Fisk threatened to call the police, and when Afaneh continued her speech, Fisk tried to lead her up the steps. Afaneh accused Fisk of assaulting her, which Chemerinsky denied. The incident ended when Chemerinsky and his wife asked the students to leave their property.
Chemerinsky expressed sadness over the disruption of the dinner by the student’s political agenda. He mentioned that the student was with about 10 others who eventually left as a group. Chemerinsky emphasized that his home is not a forum for free speech and stated that any student who disrupts future dinners will be reported for violating the student conduct code. Prior to the dinner, there was a poster circulating depicting Chemerinsky with a bloody knife and fork, with the words “No dinner with Zionist Chem while Gaza starves.” Chemerinsky hoped that future dinners would proceed without disruptions and with security present.
The student’s actions at the dinner sparked controversy, with Chemerinsky and his wife emphasizing that their home was not an appropriate venue for a political protest. They expressed sadness over the behavior of the student and her supporters. Chemerinsky reiterated that any future disruptions would not be tolerated and would result in students being reported for violations. The incident highlighted tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war and the issue of divestment from companies involved in the conflict. Chemerinsky and his wife stood firm in their decision to ask the students to leave their property and expressed hope for a peaceful conclusion to future events.
Afaneh’s attempt to give a speech about the situation in Gaza during a celebratory dinner for law school graduates led to a confrontation with Chemerinsky and his wife. The incident was captured on video and shared online, sparking debate about free speech, political expression, and appropriate venues for activism. Chemerinsky expressed deep sadness over the disruption of the dinner and reiterated that his home was not a platform for political agendas. The incident also highlighted broader issues related to the Israel-Hamas conflict and efforts to promote divestment from companies involved in the war. Chemerinsky emphasized the importance of maintaining a respectful environment for future events and expressed hope for a peaceful resolution.
