Retain Gordon Klein without consequence

Petition Closed

This petition had 180 supporters

The Issue

Gordon Klein has been subjected to a mob petition to fire him for challenging the notion people should be accommodated based on race in a personal email.
Here is the email in question

"Thanks for your suggestion in your email below that I give black students special treatment, given the tragedy in Minnesota. Do you know the names of the classmates that are black? How can I identify them since we've been having online classes only? Are there any students that may be of mixed parentage, such as half black-half Asian? What do you suggest I do with respect to them? A full concession or just half? Also, do you have any idea if any students are from Minneapolis? I assume that they probably are especially devastated as well. I am thinking that a white student from there might be possibly even more devastated by this, especially because some might think that they're racist even if they are not. My TA is from Minneapolis, so if you don't know, I can probably ask her. Can you guide me on how you think I should achieve a "no-harm" outcome since our sole course grade is from a final exam only? One last thing strikes me: Remember that MLK famously said that people should not be evaluated based on the "color of their skin." Do you think that your request would run afoul of MLK's admonition? Thanks, G. Klein"

https://youtu.be/fv6Y3a4BV6E?t=347
 
He has been suspended for his response and is now under police protection.

He upheld the American of ideal of judging people by their character and to treat all people as equals and individuals as enshrined in our 14th amendment. This is a non racist stance. And should not be punished based on the whims of an irate mob. 

UCLA should be upholding American values and the right of Professors to Academic Freedom.

Please email the following or your own personal response to the contacts at the bottom:
Subject: Regarding Gordon Klein's Suspension

To whom it concerns,

I have read Gordon Klien's email response. I find nothing about it that is racist. He has the right to challenge the notion of special treatment based solely on race through satirical means.

I expect UCLA to uphold the values of academic freedom, the values of the 14th amendment of the United States Constitution and it's mission statement: "Build an equal learning, working, and living environment,
by holding ourselves accountable to our professed ideals." (https://equity.ucla.edu/about-us/our-mission/ by supporting anybody who denies race based accommodations.

We do not heal from George Floyd's killing by police by admonishing anybody who favors equal treatment. George Floyd's death occurred precisely because police officers refused to honor his constitutional rights including equal treatment under the Law.

End Gordon's suspension and restore him with no official sanctions.

Sincerely,

Your name here

antonio.bernardo@anderson.ucla.edu, dpo@equity.ucla.edu, cbhatnagar@chr.ucla.edu, heather.caruso@anderson.ucla.edu, mblandizzi@saonet.ucla.edu, mgorden@saonet.ucla.edu, jkang@equity.ucla.edu, chancellor@ucla.edu, rtorres@conet.ucla.edu, evc@conet.ucla.edu, michaelbeck@ucla.edu jperkins@equity.ucla.edu, rkusumi@equity.ucla.edu, rklibaner@equity.ucla.edu, mventura@saonet.ucla.edu, zchhabra@saonet.ucla.edu, bforray@conet.ucla.edu, dhumber@ucla.edu

 






The Decision Makers

Petition Updates