UC Berkeley opens civil rights probe into confrontation between law professor, student

BERKELEY, Calif. - The University of California, Berkeley, has reportedly opened a civil rights investigation into an altercation between a law professor and a student, which was captured on video.

The incident occurred last month during a dinner at the private residence of Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of UC Berkeley School of Law.

Cellphone footage showed a student speaking through a microphone in support of Gaza when Catherine Fisk, a law professor and Chemerinsky's wife, tried to grab the mic from the student.

The student alleged that Fisk violated her First Amendment rights.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations released a statement praising the university's decision to probe the incident.

"We commend UC Berkeley for initiating this investigation and taking steps to address potential civil rights violations. It is crucial that all students, regardless of their religious or political beliefs, are safe and respected at university-sanctioned events," the statement read in part.