Lawsuit: UCSC Police Accused Of Excessive Force, Racial Bias

SANTA CRUZ, CA — A University of California, Santa Cruz graduate student has accused the campus police department of excessive force and said she believes officers targeted her because of her race.

Sabrina Shirazi claims the incident happened last February, while she was participating in a peaceful protest to call for a cost of living adjustment for grad students. She was standing in the crowd when officers abruptly "rushed from behind her, shoved, pushed and pulled her, and beat her repeatedly with clubs on the head and body," thus causing a concussion, sprains and strains, according to the lawsuit and Shirazi. Shirazi was surrounded, unable to leave, she said.

UC Santa Cruz spokesperson Scott Hernandez-Jason said in a written statement issued shortly after the filing that it does not believe her account is "an accurate description of the incident," but is closely reviewing her claims and will address them in court.

Hernandez-Jason said the university takes seriously allegations of harm to those in the campus community. All employees are expected "to foster and maintain a supportive educational environment for our students."

The civil rights lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. Former campus police Chief Nader Oweis is named, as is Lt. Greg Flippo.

Shirazi said in a news release that she still struggles to push through a normal day and wondered, at times, if she could finish her degree.

She further claims that she was targeted because of her race. Shirazi, who is of Iranian and Ashkenazi Jewish background, said she was the only person in the immediate area with "relatively dark skin and features."

The lawsuit seeks payment for her medical bills and for the alleged civil rights violations, according to the news release.

Read the full lawsuit here.