Bay Area university accused of ‘blacklisting Israel' in striking agreement with protesters

( KRON ) — There’s controversy in the North Bay after the president of a Northern California state university put forth an agreement with protesters and members of Students for Justice in Palestine. The school president laying out a detailed plan to look at divestment and ending an exchange program.

But now, a state lawmaker is speaking out, calling the agreement awful.

“This is horrific and wrong, my jaw dropped when I read the letter,” said State Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat.

Sen. Wiener is talking about a letter sent out Tuesday evening to the Sonoma State campus community detailing an agreement the state school struck an agreement with students protesting the war in Gaza.

More than 19 days ago, protestors set up encampments at Sonoma State. The university president, Mike Lee said he has listened to their demands.

In the letter, Lee said in part:

“None of us should be on the sidelines when human beings are subject to mass killing and destruction. I have said this before and it merits repeating; this is no political, religious or cultural principle that merits the murder of innocent and the one battle we should all be engaged in is the fight for inclusion, respect, and freedom of all people regardless of their background or identity.”

Lee then laid out a series of agreements struck with the protestors, including:

• Reviewing the school’s investments
• Declaring an academic boycott with Israeli universities
• Recognizing a Palestinian curriculum
• Calling on a permanent cease-fire in Gaza

“He is basically blacklisting Israel,” Wiener said.

On social media, protesters at Sonoma State applauded the agreement, calling it a win and saying their demands were met. KRON4.com reached out to Sonoma State University and they responded, saying they have received many requests for comment about the president’s letter and will be issuing a statement.

We also reached out to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area. We have not yet heard back.

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