On June 24th, nearly five months after opening an investigation of University of California sociology professor William I. Robinson for alleged faculty misconduct, university officials abruptly announced that they have dismissed all charges and terminated the case. Robinson has been targeted by the Anti-Defamation League for forwarding images that made a historical comparison to the state violence of the Israeli military actions in Gaza with that of German Nazi Wehrmacht in Warsaw.

In fact, an ad hoc committee set up by the Academic Senate to investigate the allegations had already reached the conclusion on May 15 that the charges against Robinson were without merit. The committee is “unanimous in finding that his sending the email is in accord with the principles of academic freedom, especially when teaching a class whose content is the sociology of globalization,” stated the report.

For his part, Robinson stated that he is awaiting “a public apology from the university as a first step in clearing my name after it has smeared my reputation and undermined my professional integrity.” He added, “as my supporters and I have documented from the start, university officials have acted deceitfully and shamelessly. It is now time for amends.” Read more

UCSB Professor Investigated for Antisemitism for Criticizing Israel | ADL Hate Laws Hate Freedom of Speech | Judge rules that judgment against ADL stands | The Anti Defamation League: Censoring the Internet on Behalf of Israel | UC Santa Barbara Students Confront ADL’s Genocide Denial | Abe Foxman's 'Anti-Semitic Pandemic' | Armenian Genocide Debate Exposes Rifts at ADL