News Summary
Malachi Marlan-Librett, a man involved in a hate crime linked to a mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA, has entered a diversionary program. As part of a plea deal, he must complete therapy and anti-bias training, avoiding jail time and a felony conviction. The case concludes the only felony charge stemming from the May 1 incident, which involved alleged attacks and violence against demonstrators. The legal proceedings are ongoing, with broader implications for hate crime accountability in protest movements.
Los Angeles – Malachi Marlan-Librett, a 28-year-old man, has entered a diversionary program as part of a plea deal related to his involvement in a hate crime connected to the mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters at UCLA. This case concludes the first and only felony charge filed in relation to violent events that transpired on May 1, 2024.
Following the agreement established on July 7, Marlan-Librett faces no jail time if he successfully completes 90 hours of therapy and anti-bias training. If he meets these requirements, all charges against him will be dismissed, allowing him to avoid a felony conviction.
During the May 1 incident, Marlan-Librett was accused of attacking protesters with chemical weapons and hurling racial slurs, as detailed in a civil lawsuit filed by the demonstrators. Evidence from videos recorded during the protest allegedly shows him kicking individuals and attempting to strike them with a broken broom.
Specific details surrounding the altercations reveal that Marlan-Librett confronted Judah Ramsey, a pro-Palestinian attorney, after noticing him wearing a keffiyeh scarf. Reports indicate that after the camp, Marlan-Librett followed Ramsey to his car and shoved him, creating further tension during the incident. Video footage corroborates these claims, depicting Marlan-Librett and another man aggressively confronting Ramsey and two women and shouting derogatory comments.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office considered a number of factors in offering the diversionary deal to Marlan-Librett, including his age and the absence of a criminal record prior to this incident. Marlan-Librett graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 2019 and subsequently attended a film program at UCLA, where he has worked as a producer on several small films listed on his IMDb page.
While Marlan-Librett was the only individual charged with a felony related to the ongoing protests at UCLA and USC, other related cases are still in progression. Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has filed two misdemeanor cases concerning the same violence that occurred near the encampment. In separate incidents associated with the protests, 19-year-old Edan On was recorded swinging a pipe at demonstrators but only faced misdemeanor battery charges after felony charges were declined. Furthermore, Matthew Katz, another pro-Palestinian protester, faces charges including battery, false imprisonment, and resisting arrest, which he firmly denies.
The L.A. City Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against over 300 other protesters linked to the encampment scene, citing insufficient evidence for proceeding. Observers, including Ramsey, criticized the lenient response towards Marlan-Librett, suggesting it highlights broader injustices related to the current conflict in Gaza and raises questions about the accountability surrounding such incidents.
Additionally, criticism has been directed towards the LAPD regarding the management of the protests, even after previous commitments to implement reform measures aimed at ensuring better oversight and the humane treatment of demonstrators. The complexities and ongoing disputes surrounding these events indicate how heavily contextualized and charged the dialogue has become in light of national and international tensions.
This development presents a significant moment in the ongoing discourse about hate crimes and the treatment of protest movements in America. As the legal process continues to unfold, many are watching closely to see the implications for future cases of this nature and the necessary steps that might be taken to protect the rights of individuals involved in peaceful demonstrations.
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- Los Angeles Times
- AOL News
- ABC7 News
- KTLA News
- Los Angeles Times
- Wikipedia: Hate crime
- NBC Los Angeles
- Google Search: UCLA hate crime protests
- Daily Bruin
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Hate crime
