UC Berkeley accused of ‘systemic racism’ after banning white people from California community farm co-owned by the university on Saturdays

One of the country’s most progressive and socially liberal schools is cultivating controversy as it faces accusations of racism after allegedly denying white residents access to a community farm on Saturday.

Gill Tract Community Farm in nearby Albany designated Saturdays exclusively for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) use after a complaint was filed with the U.S. Department of Education by the Mountain States Legal Foundation.

Some have denounced this move as an example of “systemic racism.”

Founded in 2013 through a partnership between UC-Berkeley and local communities, Gill Tract Farm serves as a site for urban agriculture research.

Part of the farm’s ethos is supporting the “food justice” movement by growing crops for healthy meals.

William Trachman, general counsel for the Mountain States Legal Foundation, criticized the university’s position.

“UC-Berkeley thinks racial segregation now is progressive, but it is no different than the segregation of the past,” Trachman told the newspaper. New York Post.

“Preventing white people from accessing Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources Farm on Saturdays is a clear violation of Title VI, which prohibits educational institutions from engaging in or permitting racial discrimination,” Trachman said.

Trachman is calling for a comprehensive investigation into all UC-Berkeley programs to address what he has described as “systemic racism.”

UC-Berkeley has said they were unaware of the discrimination complaint until contacted by the media.

“Saturdays are exclusively BIPOC. Exceptions have only been made for events that are BIPOC-centered and with adequate advance notice and planning

“I trust you will stand in solidarity with maintaining the boundaries around that safe and sacred space,” said an email from a farm manager.

After being contacted about the allegations, a university spokesperson denied any knowledge of the farm’s special Saturday policy.

“The Gill Tract website and calendar make no mention of any program or activity of the type described in the complaint. That said, the university takes these types of complaints very seriously and I can assure you that I will be contacting the appropriate people on campus on Monday to determine what the facts are.” UC-Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof. declared.

This controversy arises against the backdrop of legal challenges to race-conscious admissions policies and diversity programs in higher education institutions, raising concerns about potential reverse discrimination.

A federal discrimination complaint was recently filed against a Minnesota college scholarship available exclusively to black students, with similar claims directed against other race-based exclusionary programs at various institutions.

Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that race-conscious or “affirmative action” college admissions policies were unconstitutional and should be suspended.

Programs that appear to be race-conscious and demonstrate greater “diversity, equity and inclusivity” through programs designed specifically to increase opportunities for Black students and other minorities have since come under legal scrutiny, and amid complaints they in fact amount to reversing discrimination.

DailyMail.com has contacted the farm and UC Berkeley for a detailed explanation.

This isn’t the first time the far-left UC Berkeley has stirred controversy when it comes to race.

In August 2022 aAn off-campus co-op for university students called the “Person of Color Theme House” prohibited white guests from entering the house’s common areas.

A list of house rules showed how residents were told that “many POC moved here to avoid white violence and presence, so please respect their decision to avoid this if you bring white guests.”

Although the dorm strives for an ‘inclusive’ environment, the rules specifically state ‘white guests are not allowed in the common areas’.

The accommodation, located close to the Berkeley campus, was a five-story, 30-room house that could accommodate up to 56 students. The house is owned by a private landlord.

But the ‘rules’ leaked on social media have sparked outrage – with many people labeling the restrictions as ‘racist’, while others came forward to reveal their experiences of living in the co-op.

The house was created as part of the Berkeley Student Cooperative, a program designed to provide affordable housing to students in the Bay-area of ​​California, and “aims to provide housing for low-income, first-generation, students of color.” immigrants and marginalized students.”

According to the “rules,” people living there should “avoid bringing parents/relatives who express bigotry,” because “queer, Black, and Indigenous members should not avoid communal spaces because of homophobic or racist parents/relatives.” ‘

Janet Gilmore, senior director of strategic communications at the university, told DailyMail.com that the house is “not managed on campus,” meaning “it is not the role of the campus to comment.”

Gilmore also said that the university has its own themed programs, but that they “do not have a policy like the one claimed in the Reddit image,” stating that “Cal Housing themed programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, in accordance with UC and campus policies.”

‘Since this concerns a landlord not affiliated with the campus, the campus has no option under the Student Code of Conduct to discipline the landlord.’