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Michael Oren, UC Irvine

From February 2010 to September 2011
University of California, Irvine (Public college or university)
Irvine, CA, United States

Identity of Speakers

  • Michael Oren
    Unaffiliated
    Invited for academic lecture

    Michael Oren is an Israeli historian, author, politician, former ambassador to the United States, and former member of the Knesset, Israel’s legislative assembly.

Resources

Additional Information

  • Incident Nature:
    University-sponsored lecture/address/panel
  • Incident Political Orientation:
    Neither
  • Incident Responses:
    Rally or Protests
  • Incident Status:
    Other
  • Did not involve Speech Codes

Summary

Michael Oren is an Israeli historian, author, politician, former ambassador to the United States, and former member of the Knesset, Israel’s legislative assembly. On February 8, 2010, Oren was scheduled to deliver a speech at the University of California, Irvine. However, he was repeatedly interrupted by Muslim students organized by the school’s Muslim Students Union (MSU), who yelled slogans and accusations against Oren.

Shortly after the protest, the students were charged with violating UC Irvine’s penal code. Later, the MSU was suspended for its role in organizing the protest. And in February 2011, the “Irvine 11” were charged with misdemeanors for disturbing a lawful meeting. Ten were ultimately found guilty and sentenced to probation, a fine, and community service, while the eleventh student accepted a plea bargain that dropped his charges in exchange for 40 hours of community service.