I am Lisa Glover. I work at UC Irvine, and we are creating this GoFundMe to assist us in defending the values we hold dear: academic freedom, human rights, and the right to advocate for change.

On May 15th, 2024, protesters at a lawful assembly at UC Irvine were corralled, beaten, stomped on, and arrested by hundreds of militarized riot police from over twenty law enforcement agencies invited to campus by Chancellor Howard Gillman. The campus was encircled by officers who received numerous false reports from the university that 200 people had taken over a building. Only hours after the riot police had arrested, detained, and beaten protesters did the university send out an announcement correcting its own false reports. Video of Dr. Willoughby-Herard’s violent arrest circulated around the world in the wake of these events. Now she and dozens of UC Irvine protesters are facing criminal charges and seek to challenge their civil rights violations.

The legal challenges faced by Dr. Willoughby-Herard and others who have had their civil rights violated are significant, and the legal expenses from these unjust arrests are mounting. With your help, we can ensure that they have the resources needed to fight these charges and bring civil rights cases on their behalf. We are launching this Legal Fund, and your support – whether large or small – is crucial. Please donate today.