California senate candidate blasts UC Berkeley for 'pandering' to anti-Israel protesters after debate canceled

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Pro-Palestinian protester derails dinner at UC Berkeley law school dean’s home, refuses to leave

A congratulatory dinner held at the home of UC Berkeley School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky was upended this week after a pro-Palestinian student started a heated exchange about the Israel-Hamas war.

FIRST ON FOX: The University of California, Berkeley canceled a fall debate between two California senate candidates in preparation for continued turmoil from continued campus protests.

In email correspondence obtained by Fox News Digital, a debate, tentatively scheduled for early fall on the California campus between Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey, was canceled after the school determined that they "did not have the capacity to ensure a safe and civil event."

"World events have resulted in heightened tensions on campus, which are unlikely to dissipate by the fall and may be even more intense due to the November election," email correspondence from Dr. Christine Trost, the Executive Director of The University of California, Berkeley's College of Governmental Studies, said.

"After considerable reflection, we have determined that we do not have the capacity to ensure a safe and civil event," Trost added. "We also don’t have the resources that would likely be needed to ensure adequate security for such a high profile event."

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A pro-Palestinian protester holds a Palestinian flag while in front of Sproul Hall during a planned protest on the campus of UC Berkeley in Berkeley, California. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group via AP)

Former baseball player, Garvey, and Rep. Schiff is running for the consequential senate seat, which longtime Sen. Diane Feintein held until her death in Oct. 2023.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Garvey said that it was "terrible" that anti-Israel protesters are "dictating campus policy" – and preventing educational opportunities.

"It’s terrible how violent, pro-Hamas protesters are dictating campus policy, creating an unsafe environment for students, and preventing unique educational opportunities such as hosting this debate," Garvey said.

Pro-Palestinian protesters carry signs as they march in front of Sather Gate on the UC Berkeley campus on April 22, 2024 in Berkeley, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Garvey called for college campuses to "stop pandering" to anti-Israel protesters.

"School administrators and politicians must stop pandering to these antisemitic campus occupations and riots. It’s time we stood up for democracy, freedom of speech, and the safety of students, faculty, and events," he said. "This is a sad day for UC Berkeley."

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Schiff was not immediately available for comment, but had previously called for an end of antisemitic and hateful rhetoric on campuses.

"Jewish students should feel safe on campus. Period," Schiff wrote in a X post. "That will never be the case if we allow situations like the one at Columbia — where antisemitic and hateful rhetoric is being loudly and proudly displayed — to be tolerated. This needs to stop."

Pro-Palestinian protesters stage a demonstration in front of Sather Gate on the UC Berkeley campus on April 22, 2024 in Berkeley, California.  (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Rep. Schiff, Christine Trost and UC Berkeley's media department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.