Students at the University of California, Merced are demanding administrators denounce the campus College Republicans and their “White supremacists’ coordinated campaign of harassment and intimidation.”
Leftist students are circulating a seven-page “Timeline of White Supremacy,” which documents actions by the College Republicans at UC Merced as far back as September 2017.
“We call on all our communities and comrades to stand with us and help us fight the fascism developing on our campus,” the flyer reads in part.
The timeline flyer demands administrators condemn the College Republican club at a press conference by April 30 or face consequences, due to their support for immigration enforcement, traditional gender roles, the elimination of gun free zones, and other conservative initiatives.
The timeline cites the College Republicans’ use of phrases like “White Lives Matter too,” “Islam is not Peace,” and “MAGA,” which they call a “racist celebration.” The timeline also complains of their use of the Pepe the Frog meme, which they call hate speech, and the College Republicans’ support of the Kate Steinle family, as well as recruitment signs reading “End Gay Marriage,” “Only 2 Genders,” and “Build the Wall.”
The timeline concludes with its demand to UC Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland.
“We demand chancellor Leland hold a press conference (April 30th, 2018) to acknowledge the discrimination of UCM students and workers based on their race, gender, sexuality, nationality/immigration status, dis/ability, age, and etc. and allocate resources needed for the students and workers with the input of all cultural organizations,” reads the timeline.
“If a press conference and formal meeting with students and workers regarding the allocation of such resources is not held by April 30th, 2018, major news outlets will be informed to raise awareness of the Chancellor’s negligence of students’ rights.”
The UC Merced College Republicans say many of the allegations are “fabricated.”
“The pamphlets they’re distributing are directly targeting individuals in the club. This absolutely does not establish an inclusive environment when specific students are targeted for holding beliefs that are different than those of the majority,” said UC Merced Republicans member Harry Duran. “They are slandering us, fabricating events, stalking us, all in an extreme, pathetic and almost humorous overreaction towards the irrational fear of discourse and ideas that contradict their own. As someone who is being personally targeted by these students, I am ashamed that my administration would allow this type of bullying to occur just because I am a Republican. But it doesn’t bother me, because I have the truth and College Republicans across the state on my side.”
To date, 16 chapters of the California College Republicans have released statements supporting the College Republicans at UC Merced in their fight against the Associated Students at UC Merced who are seeking to defund the group due to their “hateful views.” These chapters include UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, Stanford, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, San Diego State, College of Sequoias, Orange Coast College, Cal Maritime, UC Hastings, Santa Clara University, Chico State, Sacramento State, and CSU Stanislaus.
