Indian American professor sues UCSF over firing linked to Gaza posts

An academic physician at UC San Francisco has sued the university, claiming free speech violations after she was fired over social media posts about Israel’s Gaza operations.

What she’s saying: Dr. Rupa Marya, who worked at the university for 22 years — with a focus on “the health impacts of colonialism, racism and state violence as well as the paths to create health equity” — was fired in late May following a nine-month suspension.

After Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, she began posting content supporting Gaza’s hospital workers while condemning strikes on medical centers. She slammed Zionist ideology as supremacist and racist, questioning how such beliefs might affect patient care. Her posts reportedly triggered death and rape threats, but administrators allegedly refused protective measures despite providing such help during the 2020 civil rights protests.

What the university is saying: UCSF representatives have declined to comment on Marya’s case, with spokesperson Kristen Bole citing privacy laws. However, the university had previously issued a statement condemning “a tired and familiar racist conspiracy theory” about “‘Zionist’ doctors” threatening certain patients of color and denouncing “those who attack entire groups of people and promote divisiveness and xenophobia, including Islamophobia and, in this instance, antisemitism.”

Citing safety concerns, the university’s medical board temporarily revoked Marya’s clinic privileges in October 2024 before restoring them two weeks later.

The big picture: Marya’s case reflects growing tensions over Palestinian advocacy on college campuses. It also comes amid increased federal pressure on universities over campus antisemitism, including Justice Department official Leo Terrell’s threat of “massive lawsuits” against the UC system. Similar disputes have occurred at other UC campuses, including UCLA’s firing of another professor over their involvement in pro-Palestinian encampments.

Marya’s federal case seeks court protection of her medical licensing, while her state case demands financial compensation for lost income and emotional distress.

 

This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices.