Oakland far-left academic arrested over multiple arson attacks at UC Berkeley

A far-left extremist, who was charged last year in connection with a violent assault at a women's conference, has been arrested yet again, this time for allegedly carrying out a series of arson attacks at UC Berkeley in the name of Palestine. Casey Robert Goonan, 34, was booked into Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County on Monday for conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of a destructive device, possession of an explosive on a public street, making a destructive device without a permit, using an explosive device, arson on forest land, and arson, all of which are felonies. Berekely Scanner reported the arrest.

Goonan, who holds a PhD in African studies from Northwestern University and has a history of advocating for the abolition of prisons, is being held on $1 million bail. Members of far-left groups have praised his actions, and have begun trying to raise the money necessary to free him. In September of last year, he was arrested and charged with both felony vandalism and resisting arrest. His actions resulted in injuries to two members of the SFPD during his escape attempt. This was as he tried to disrupt the Women’s Declaration International US event attended by 100 or so gender critical feminists. The event featured women speaking on the right to free speech in academia as a female as well as issues concerning black women, lesbians, and detransitioned women.

On June 13, student intifada released a statement claiming that it had "unloaded a firebomb on the side of a campus building" at UC Berkeley in response to cops actions at UCLA the night before. "Not sure what building it even was," the statement read. "Honestly don't really care. Every single building on the UC Berkeley campus deserves to be incinerated."



The action was part of "Operation Campus Food" which calls for the destruction of the United States. The document from that group also took responsibility for another arson attack, saying "Around 4am on June 1 2024, an incendiary device was placed below a UC Berkeley police vehicle parked in front of UCPD station. The device was lit underneath the back left wheel of a police SUV, placed between the tire and underside of fuel tank. There were too many people around at the time to see the final result. Unsure if it caught the tire and fuel tank. But the device has enough fuel in it to torch the entire car if it was successfully placed. This act was done in retaliation against UCPD, for their attack on students yesterday on a different campus and to retaliate against the University of California for its support for the zionist israel."

According to IndyBay, on June 16 a construction site at UC Berkeley was set on fire in broad daylight "in retaliation for u.c.pd's violent assaults on vulnerable student demonstrators and to punish the university of kkkalifornia system for supporting the genocidal zionist-Israel entity." The group also admitted to carrying out a series of additional acts, including the firebombing of a cop car, looting of a supply building, and "experimental burning of dry grass hills" on campus.

"This was done on father's day for all the palestinian fathers who have kost their children at the hands of the zionist and amerikkkan settler states," they added, vowing to continue until the UC system "completely divests from the genocidal 'israeli' settler nation-building project."

The Escalate Network has come to Goonan's defense, calling his actions "logical." The group urged those who can to support him financially, noting that a fundraiser will be set up in the following days. He is set to appear in court to be arraigned on Thursday.