[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
Freedom Archives
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