The Palestinian student, Malak Afaneh, who attempted to disrupt a dinner party at the dean of UC Berkeley's School of Law, accused the dean's wife, Professor Catherine Fisk, of assault and perceived hostility towards her hijab. Afaneh described feeling traumatized and humiliated by the incident, emphasizing that Fisk's actions were driven by her perception of Afaneh as a threat solely based on her identity as a hijabi-wearing Palestinian Muslim student.
Initially invited to the dinner by law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky, Afaneh intended to address UC's complicity in certain issues, but she was prevented from doing so when Fisk approached her aggressively. The confrontation, captured on video and circulated widely, revealed Fisk attempting to remove Afaneh from the premises, despite Afaneh's peaceful demeanor and attempts to engage in dialogue.
Chemerinsky defended his decision to host the dinner and condemned the behavior of the protesting students, emphasizing the sanctity of his private residence and expressing disappointment at their disruptive actions. Despite the backlash, Chemerinsky reiterated his commitment to academic freedom and open discourse at UC Berkeley.
