Dr. Rupa Marya, a longtime UCSF Professor and physician, has filed two lawsuits alleging her suspension and firing over pro-Palestinian social media posts violated her constitutional rights and professional standing.
At a Glance
- UCSF fired Dr. Rupa Marya in May 2025 after suspending her for social media posts criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza.
- Marya filed federal and state lawsuits alleging retaliation and violation of her First Amendment rights.
- UCSF cited concerns over Marya’s posts about an Israeli student, labeling them as antisemitic.
- Marya’s legal team argues her speech was protected and that she faced disparate treatment compared to others.
- The case highlights tensions between academic freedom and institutional responses to political expression.
The Lawsuits and Allegations
Dr. Rupa Marya, a physician and former Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, filed two lawsuits after her termination in May 2025. The federal complaint claims UCSF violated her First Amendment rights by retaliating against her for personal social media posts made during nonworking hours, criticizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza. A second lawsuit, filed in California state court, seeks damages for reputational harm and emotional distress following her dismissal after 22 years of teaching.
Marya’s legal team contends that UCSF’s response—including suspension, an internal investigation, and the revocation of clinical privileges—was the result of her protected political speech. The filings argue she received disparate treatment compared to faculty who posted Islamophobic or pro-Israel content. Her lawyers are asking the court to bar UCSF from taking any further punitive action tied to her advocacy.
UCSF’s Response and Broader Context
UCSF initially suspended Marya in September 2024 after she made a social media post criticizing an Israeli student’s presence at a pro-Palestinian event. The university later escalated the matter by suspending her clinical privileges, labeling her a “possible imminent danger” to patients. She was reinstated in mid-October after appealing the decision.
California State Senator Scott Wiener publicly accused Marya of spreading antisemitic conspiracies and encouraging harassment, a claim her attorneys deny. UCSF released a statement calling her remarks a “racist attack,” while Marya has maintained that her post simply criticized perceived Zionist disruption of a peaceful event.
Watch a report: Fired over Gaza? Dr. Rupa Marya Sues UCSF.
Implications for Academic Freedom
Marya’s case is not isolated. Her firing comes amid a larger wave of disciplinary actions against faculty across the University of California system for pro-Palestinian speech. Labor complaints have been filed alleging unlawful suppression of protests and viewpoint discrimination on UC campuses.
Her lawsuits have amplified national debates about the limits of academic freedom, especially when it intersects with volatile geopolitical issues. Marya’s legal team warns of a “chilling effect” on scholars who voice controversial opinions, particularly in support of marginalized groups. If successful, her claims could reshape how universities balance institutional values with faculty members’ constitutional rights.
The outcome of this case will likely set a precedent for how U.S. universities handle politically charged speech by employees in the age of online activism and campus polarization.
