Sang Hea Kil, a tenured justice studies professor at San José State University, has been reinstated after being fired last November for her pro-Palestinian activism. An arbitrator ruled that the California State University system violated the law, ordering her reinstatement with backpay. Kil expressed relief but remains committed to speaking out for Palestinian rights and free speech.
Arbitrator's Ruling
The independent arbitrator determined that Kil's termination was disproportionate, reducing it to a one-month suspension. The ruling stated that firing a tenured faculty member for free-speech activity was questionable, even if it conflicted with institutional policies. Kil was the first tenured professor dismissed from a US public university since Steven Salaita in 2014.
Lawsuit and Allegations
Kil filed a lawsuit in May with the superior court of California, alleging that the university violated employment law and the First Amendment. Her attorney, Rebecca Brown, called it one of the most egregious examples of repression of pro-Palestine speech. The firing stemmed from a February 2024 protest where Kil was accused of encouraging an encampment and participating in it.
Kil, faculty adviser for Students for Justice in Palestine, said she attended the protest personally and witnessed another faculty member assault a student—a colleague who was only briefly suspended. She joined a student encampment for three nights after police raids on similar protests led to arrests. The university dismissed her against a faculty committee's recommendation that found termination disproportionate.
Broader Context
Kil was among several professors and staff disciplined during pro-Palestinian protests on US campuses. The arbitrator noted the questionable nature of firing for free-speech activity, reinforcing First Amendment protections. Kil plans to continue her lawsuit, seeking accountability for what she sees as discriminatory retaliation.
