UC Berkeley Must Uphold Academic Freedom: Reinstate Lecturer Peyrin Kao

Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | December 10, 2025 — UC Berkeley’s suspension of Lecturer Peyrin Kao for alleged “political advocacy” and for participating in a hunger strike in solidarity with Gaza represents a disturbing breach of academic freedom and core democratic values. Penalizing an educator for engaging students on human rights issues undermines the very purpose of a public university: to encourage critical thinking, open inquiry, and moral clarity. This action sends an alarming message to faculty who speak about injustice, particularly when it concerns marginalized and oppressed communities.

By disciplining Kao for addressing urgent global issues, UC Berkeley sets a harmful precedent across the UC system. Educators should never have to fear retaliation for facilitating difficult conversations or challenging students to confront the realities of conflict, violence, and inequity. The lack of transparency behind this decision only deepens concern about how political speech is being interpreted and policed on campus.

MPAC calls on UC Berkeley to reverse this suspension immediately and reinstate Peyrin Kao with full pay. We urge the UC Board of Regents to conduct robust oversight and fortify systemwide protections for academic freedom. We also call on Governor Newsom to uphold California’s commitment to free expression by ensuring a thorough, independent investigation into UC Berkeley’s actions. Students and faculty alike deserve campuses where truth-seeking and open dialogue are protected, not punished.