Assemblymember Bloom Responds to Anti-Semitic Cartoon in UCLA School Newspaper

SACRAMENTO – In response to an anti-Semitic cartoon printed in the UCLA Daily Bruin, Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) released the following statement:

 “I am deeply disturbed that the editors at the Daily Bruin permitted an offensive and anti-Semitic cartoon to be printed in today’s paper.  Criticizing a governmental action, in this particular case, Israeli settlement policies, is responsible journalism.  However, calling into question Jewish religious tenets is reckless, immature, and blatantly discriminatory.  Such carelessness is particularly troubling in light of the recent protests across this country against equally discriminatory executive orders that have targeted specific groups of people from certain countries.  Furthermore, the cartoon in the Daily Bruin further fans the flames at UCLA where Jewish students have been targeted and discriminated against.  I have no doubt that this cartoon violates the University of California policy that states “anti-Semitism, anti-Semitic forms of anti-Zionism and other forms of discrimination have no place at the University of California.”  For these reasons, I join with Hillel UCLA, Anti-Defamation League, and thousands of offended students in calling on the Daily Bruin to immediately retract the cartoon, issue an apology, and for the University’s administration to act accordingly on the matter.” 

Also issuing criticisms of the paper’s decision to print the cartoon was UCLA Hillel, numerous pro-Israel students, and the Anti-Defamation League.

 Richard Bloom is a member of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus and represents California’s 50th Assembly District, which comprises the communities of Agoura Hills, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Hollywood, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Topanga, West Hollywood, and West Los Angeles.