UCSC Urged to Drop Zionist Funding from Helen Diller Foundation

Protesters call on university to end ties with groups accused of promoting hate and anti-Palestinian views

Jan. 27, 2026 at 7:31pm

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A group of activists is organizing a protest at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) to demand the school's Center for Jewish Studies drop all funding and ties to the Helen Diller Foundation. The activists claim the foundation has donated millions to organizations that promote Zionism and are classified as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Why it matters

The protest highlights growing tensions around the influence of pro-Israel and Zionist groups on college campuses, particularly in academic departments focused on Jewish and Middle Eastern studies. Critics argue the Diller Foundation's funding comes with strings attached that undermine academic freedom and marginalize Palestinian voices.

The details

The protest is scheduled for January 28, 2026, with a rally at the base of the UCSC campus at 5 PM followed by a march to the Hay Barn. Organizers are calling on the university to "Drop Diller" and "Stop Taking Zionist Blood Money" from the Helen Diller Foundation, which they say has donated to groups that promote Islamophobia and oppose Palestinian rights.

  • The protest is scheduled for January 28, 2026.
  • The rally will begin at 5 PM at the base of the UCSC campus, followed by a march to the Hay Barn at 5:30 PM.

The players

Jews Against White Supremacy UCSC

A student activist group organizing the protest against UCSC's ties to the Helen Diller Foundation.

Helen Diller Foundation

A philanthropic organization that has donated millions to groups the Southern Poverty Law Center classifies as hate groups, according to the protest organizers.

UCSC Center for Jewish Studies

The academic department at the University of California, Santa Cruz that has accepted funding from the Helen Diller Foundation since 2012, according to the protest organizers.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This protest highlights the ongoing debate over the influence of pro-Israel and Zionist groups on college campuses, particularly in academic departments focused on Jewish and Middle Eastern studies. Critics argue that funding from organizations like the Helen Diller Foundation comes with strings attached that undermine academic freedom and marginalize Palestinian voices.