- By Shivangi Sharma
- Tue, 10 Jun 2025 10:04 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Rupa Marya, a physician and longtime faculty member at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has filed a federal lawsuit against the university, alleging her suspension and subsequent firing were retaliation for exercising her right to free speech. Marya claims she was targeted over her social media posts criticizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza and expressing solidarity with Palestinian healthcare workers.
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco federal court on Wednesday, argues that UCSF’s actions, including an investigation, suspension, and eventual dismissal, were in direct violation of Marya’s First Amendment rights. Her attorneys assert that all disciplinary measures were a response to her personal social media activity, carried out during non-working hours.
“Firing Dr. Marya doesn’t only violate her right to free speech, it threatens all of us,” her attorney Mark Kleiman said. “We expect the Court will agree with us that Marya’s rights have been violated and must be remedied.”
Online Backlash And Threats
According to court documents cited by NBC News, the controversy began in November 2023 when Marya began posting criticism of Israel’s Gaza campaign, especially as attacks on hospitals intensified. She wrote in solidarity with Palestinian medical workers, emphasizing that her statements were directed at government policies and political ideologies, not religious or ethnic groups.
A post in September 2024 escalated tensions. Marya expressed concerns shared by UCSF students about a first-year Israeli student who might have served in the Israel Defense Forces, questioning whether he had participated in violence against Palestinians. This prompted accusations of antisemitism from California State Senator Scott Wiener, who claimed Marya was promoting “an age-old antisemitic conspiracy theory.”
University Reaction And Fallout
Following the backlash, UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood took what he described as “immediate action,” stating that the university would not tolerate behavior that fosters hostility toward community members. On October 1, Marya was suspended and labeled a “possible imminent danger” by the UCSF Executive Medical Board, though her clinical privileges were reinstated on October 15.
Marya also alleges she received rape and death threats for her posts, alongside ongoing harassment. A separate lawsuit filed in state court seeks damages for emotional distress, loss of income, and damage to her professional reputation after 22 years of teaching. Her legal team contends that UCSF’s disciplinary measures reflect a dangerous precedent: punishing individuals for their political views expressed in personal capacities.