[Ppnews] Students for Justice in Palestine condemns US government witch hunt

Political Prisoner News ppnews at freedomarchives.org
Thu Dec 30 11:28:49 EST 2010


Students for Justice in Palestine condemns US government witch hunt
Press release, Students for Justice in Palestine, 29 December 2010

The following press release was issued by the 
Students for Justice in Palestine (US) on 29 December 2010:

"For if they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night."
- James Baldwin, in an open letter to Angela Davis, 19 November 1970

As students at over fifty American universities, 
we unequivocally condemn the abuse of grand jury 
subpoenas to chill the exercise of First 
Amendment rights by university students and 
anti-war activists speaking and organizing 
against Israel's continued oppression of the 
Palestinian people. Since 24 September 2010, 
<http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11626.shtml>the 
FBI has served at least 24 grand jury subpoenas 
on students and activists in a secret 
investigation that many have called a witch hunt. 
We call upon Attorney General Eric Holder and 
United States Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to 
respect the civil rights and free speech of all 
those who support the Palestinian struggle for 
freedom by immediately withdrawing grand jury 
subpoenas which threaten the First Amendment 
rights of students and activists around the country.

The government's assault on organizations and 
individuals who support the Palestinian struggle 
for freedom has become increasingly 
authoritarian. The abuse of laws criminalizing 
"material support for terrorism" is unprecedented 
and, had they been implemented at the time of 
South African apartheid, would have effectively 
criminalized broad American support for the 
anti-apartheid movement. At the apparent behest 
of US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the government 
today has cast a net so wide that it has 
entangled journalists, college students, and 
peace activists. We know that a campaign so 
indiscriminate will seriously impinge on the 
First Amendment and other civil rights of people 
living in the United States. This will, in 
particular, affect active and outspoken students 
on university campuses, especially those of Palestinian descent.

It is not only our right but also our moral duty 
to speak and act against American foreign policy 
and its destructive impact on innocent people 
around the world. Today, America unfortunately 
stands behind Israel's oppression of the 
Palestinian people with money, weaponry, and 
diplomatic support. We seek to reverse this 
situation so that American foreign policy stands 
on the side of people who work towards justice. 
We reject the government's efforts to isolate the 
Palestinian people by severing them from their 
non-violent supporters abroad. Therefore we stand 
in solidarity with the victims of our 
government's campaign both in America and around the globe.

If Attorney Fitzgerald's campaign marks the 
morning of a new day, then we are certain of what 
awaits us in the night. Like Baldwin before us, 
we live in an age in which silence is not only 
criminal but suicidal -- we shall, therefore, make as much noise as we can.

Signed:
    * American University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Arizona State University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Bard College, International Solidarity Movement
    * Benedictine University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Boston University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Brandeis University, Brandeis SJP
    * Brooklyn College CUNY, The Palestinian Club
    * Columbia University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Cornell University, United for Peace and Justice in Palestine
    * DePaul University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Eastern Washington University, SLAC
    * Florida International University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * George Mason University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * George Washington University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Georgetown University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Hampshire College, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Harvard Law School, Middle East Law Students Association
    * Harvard University, Alliance for Justice in the Middle East
    * Harvard University, Harvard College Palestine Solidarity Committee
    * Harvard University, Harvard Law School Justice for Palestine
    * Hunter College, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Loyola University, Middle Eastern Student Association
    * Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Palestine at MIT
    * New York University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Northeastern Illinois University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Northwestern University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Ohio State University, Committee for Justice in Palestine
    * Pennsylvania State University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Rutgers University – New Brunswick, BAKA: 
Students United for Middle Eastern Justice
    * San Diego State University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 
Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Temple University, Temple Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Tufts University, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of Arizona, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of California, Berkeley, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of California, Berkeley Law, Law 
Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of California, Davis, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of California, Irvine, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of California, Los Angeles, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of California, Riverside, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of California, San Diego, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of Chicago, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of Florida, Students for Justice In Palestine
    * University of Illinois at Chicago, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 
Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of Michigan, Students Allied for Freedom & Equality
    * University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Palestine Solidarity Committee
    * University of Pittsburgh, Pitt Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of South Florida, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of Southern California, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * University of Texas at Austin, Palestine Solidarity Committee
    * University of Washington, Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Vermont Law School, Law Students for Justice in Palestine
    * Wellesley College, Justice for Palestine
    * Yale University, Yale Students for Justice and Peace in Palestine




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