The University of California Police Department arrested three Academic Workers at UC San Diego at their homes and charged them with felonies for exercising their right to free speech. Their crime? Allegedly chalking messages like ‘Living Wage Now’ on the side of a building. The workers- who had their belongings confiscated and spent hours in jail- each face two felony charges: Vandalism and Conspiracy to Commit a Crime.

These workers were arrested a month after the protest occurred. The UCPD served warrants simultaneously at their homes and offices and contacted their PIs to determine their whereabouts. The workers’ phones and computers were confiscated and as of July 7th have still not been returned to them. One worker was handcuffed to a chair while being held in police custody and others were kept in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

After settling contracts with much needed raises during our 2022 strike, UC Administrators are now having second thoughts about the agreements they signed. Since January, workers across the state have been protesting while UC drags its feet and refuses to implement our new contracts. They are losing grievances and arbitrations left and right and they see no way out of their obligations other than through brute force. The arrested workers' alleged chalking was part of a protest against the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s refusal to pay out the raises they are contractually obligated to.

This is not an isolated instance. These arrests are part of a broader crackdown on free speech at the University of California, and by universities nationwide. At UC San Diego, 60 workers were slapped with Student Conduct charges and accused of physical assault for their disruption of a fundraising event. At the University of Michigan, police intimidated striking workers at their homes. And at Rutgers, administrators are similarly refusing to implement a historic contract that they just agreed to.

Join UC Academic Workers in fighting against this heinous repression. Universities fear the growing power of unionized academic workers and are resorting to increasingly desperate tactics to maintain their power. Contribute to the defense fund for these workers and show that higher education workers nationwide are united behind our demands for a more just workplace.

All monies that go undisbursed will be donated to the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council’s (SDICLC) community services division.

UCSD Academic Workers Legal Defense Fund

Legal defense fund for the three UCSD academic workers facing criminal charges for protesting