Graeme Blair, professor in UCLA’s Department of Political Science, has transformed from a faculty member into a full-time activist, embedding himself in UCLA’s most radical protest circles and providing academic cover for movements that glorify terrorism and spread antisemitic propaganda. Under the guise of supporting student “freedom of expression,” Blair has consistently aligned himself with agitators who disrupted campus life, defied law enforcement, and created hostile environments for Jewish students.
Rather than maintaining the neutrality expected of a professor, Blair has chosen to act as a foot soldier in a broader political campaign—one that disregards campus policy, legitimizes hate speech, and vilifies institutional authority.
A Faculty Member Turned Protest Fixture
Blair’s involvement in UCLA’s Spring 2024 encampments was not incidental—it was foundational. He was a daily presence within the protest zones, helping organize logistics, coordinate messaging, and deliver lectures that framed the illegal occupations as “educational spaces.” In reality, these encampments were anything but peaceful. They were rife with extremist rhetoric, chants glorifying Hamas, and efforts to physically bar Jewish students from campus buildings.
On May 1, 2024, Blair helped organize a faculty rally opposing university efforts to restore order. The next day, he was arrested for refusing to vacate the encampment after police issued multiple warnings. As he was detained under California Penal Code 409, Blair held a sign reading: “UCLA Faculty and Staff Support our Students”—an unmistakable symbol of his endorsement of the protesters’ conduct, no matter how extreme.
Even after his arrest, Blair doubled down, accusing the university—not the agitators—of violence. He described the police response as a betrayal of the UCLA community and insisted the university was “complicit in harm.”
Litigating for Extremism
In the aftermath of the encampment’s dismantling, Blair joined a faculty-led lawsuit against UCLA and the UC Regents, positioning himself as a martyr of free speech. The legal complaint alleged that his promotion to full professor was blocked due to his activism—a claim used to bolster his narrative of victimhood.
More disturbingly, Blair laid the blame for the protest chaos not on the agitators who sparked violence, but on UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, stating, “Their blood is on Gene Block’s hands.”
He also demanded a student-led investigation into the police response, aligning with far-left faculty factions calling for the Chancellor’s resignation—not for failing to protect students from harassment and intimidation, but for restoring order too late.
A Shield for Antisemitic Incitement
Blair’s activism has repeatedly shielded antisemitic conduct from scrutiny. As a member of Faculty for Students for Justice in Palestine–UCLA (FSJP-UCLA), he lent his name and title to public declarations denying that the encampments harbored hate, even as students reported open hostility and harassment.
When university officials called the encampments “unauthorized,” Blair responded by accusing them of inciting violence—conveniently omitting the fact that protestors had barricaded entrances, shouted violent chants, and praised known terrorists like Yehya Sinwar and Hassan Nasrallah.
Blair publicly marched with 50 faculty members to denounce accusations of antisemitism, dismissing the lived experiences of Jewish students and minimizing clear instances of hate speech and intimidation.
Under Internal Investigation
In June 2024, UCLA launched a formal Faculty Code of Conduct investigation against Blair for:
- Inciting students to break university rules
- Disrupting university operations
- Harassing members of the campus community
- Misusing university resources for unauthorized political activity
These charges reflect the seriousness of Blair’s violations—not isolated acts of protest, but a sustained campaign to undermine institutional norms and elevate political activism over professional responsibility.
Conclusion: An Academic Who Abandoned Integrity
Graeme Blair has chosen radicalism over responsibility. Rather than upholding the role of a scholar committed to balance, inquiry, and student safety, he has embraced confrontation, chaos, and ideological partisanship. His public rhetoric and private actions reveal not an advocate for peace, but a defender of extremism cloaked in academic language.
Blair may claim to support students—but he has stood with those who made Jewish students feel unsafe, who glorified terrorism, and who disregarded university policies meant to ensure a functioning, respectful learning environment.
UCLA deserves educators who uphold truth, foster safety, and resist the pull of political extremism. Graeme Blair has proven himself to be the opposite.