JVP Portland on the Campus Protests

POSTED BY JENNIFER RUTH

I requested permission to publish the Jewish Voice for Peace-Portland chapter’s letter to Portland State College President Ann Cudd. It really works by some factors in a method that I discover useful. I hope you do, too.

Might 13, 2024

Pricey President Cudd,

Many campuses throughout this nation, together with PSU, have been websites of huge scholar protests up to now weeks in opposition to Israel’s seven month assault on Gaza and to demand an finish to the historic denial of Palestinian rights. The “Gaza Solidarity Encampments” are distinctive at every campus, however the motion is united within the name for the Israeli genocide in Gaza to finish, for disclosure by the college on the place their funds are invested, divestment from these companies which can be supporting Israel, and in opposition to Israel’s ongoing denial of Palestinian human rights, together with the precise to self-determination. One commonality between the totally different campus encampments is the variety of scholars concerned within the protests–Jewish, Palestinian and others from many backgrounds. These are locations dedicated to non-discrimination and to mutual respect. In stories from college students in numerous encampments, now we have seen Shabbat companies on Friday nights, Passover seders and area for Muslim college students to wish. Core values of this motion embody mutual respect and equal rights.

Jewish Voice for Peace-Portland (JVP-PDX) is writing to you to supply a Jewish perspective that could be totally different from one you could have obtained from the Jewish Federation of Portland and different Jewish zionist organizations in regards to the current protests for Palestine. It is very important know that there is no such thing as a one group who can declare to talk for the Jewish group. Too usually the Jewish Federation claims to be that group, which is just unfaithful. The Jewish group, like all others, just isn’t monolithic in its beliefs. On the query of Israel, a rising variety of Jews, particularly younger Jews, are talking out in opposition to Israel’s insurance policies and actions concerning Palestine. They achieve this out of the very best of Jewish values–understanding that each one life is sacred and that one group of individuals can’t be free till all persons are free..Jewish Voice for Peace is the biggest progressive, Jewish anti-Zionist group on the planet, and describes itself as: “…a nationwide, grassroots group impressed by Jewish custom to work for a simply and lasting peace in accordance with rules of human rights, equality, and worldwide regulation for all of the folks of Israel and Palestine. JVP has over 200,000 on-line supporters, over 70 chapters, a youth wing, a Rabbinic Council, an Artist Council, an Tutorial Advisory Council, and an Advisory Board made up of main U.S. intellectuals and artists.”

We need to underscore the significance of dissent and freedom of expression inside our democracy. That is crucial to the well being of a democratic society, and is very essential on campuses, the place crucial considering, discourse, and deep examination are important parts of a wholesome academic setting. After all, we won’t all agree on all points, however we should decide to having open areas for such discourses centering First Modification rights to freedom of speech. It should even be remembered that the scholars at PSU have, for a few years, appealed to the Board of Trustees to divest from companies concerned within the violation of Palestinian human rights. What is going on now just isn’t new. Up to now, scholar calls for for divestment have been ignored and insulted, and lots of the scholar leaders have been actually doxxed for having introduced up the divestment decision.

One of many frequent responses by pro-Israel teams to any criticism of the State of Israel is to label it as being antisemitic. For years, pro-zionist/pro-Israel teams have enacted totally different approaches to censoring pro-Palestinian speech, writings, and actions–all predicated on the narrative that each one criticism of Israel is inherently antisemitic. This censorship of pro-Palestinian organizing has taken numerous varieties together with laws that defines criticism of Israel as being antisemitic, makes an attempt to blacklist and fireplace teachers, and doxxing, slandering and intimidating college students and school. In 2015, Palestine Authorized and the Middle for Constitutional Rights compiled a whole lot of instances the place college students have been harassed on campuses or their speech curtailed merely for organizing or talking out for Palestinian rights. Their complete report entitled, The Palestine Exception to Free Speech offers essential documentation of many instances. The case examples above are simply consultant of many such repressive responses, and for the reason that 2015 report, these kinds of responses have solely intensified. Charging antisemitism in response to organizing for Palestinian liberation is a straightforward trick within the playbook of, not solely Zionist Jews, but additionally Christian Zionists and conservative, right-wing forces who need to shut down the free speech of this motion. Usually it’s antisemites themselves who degree these fees.

Working to finish Israel’s insurance policies of Apartheid, unlawful settlement building, uprooting Palestinian villages, destroying olive timber, denying freedom of motion, the 65 Israeli legal guidelines that discriminate towards Palestinians, collective punishment, unlawful detention, lack of authorized due course of, and abuse of political prisoners, together with kids are all requires social justice in the very best sense of Jewish values. Ending a genocide is rooted in our personal Jewish historic expertise–By no means Once more for Anybody. Organizing for Palestinians to have freedom, equality, security, and self dedication are rooted in Judaism’s robust teachings that each one are created equal and that each one life is sacred. Declaring such actions as being antisemitic is an affront to our Jewishness.

Jewish security and freedom is sure within the freedom, equality, and self dedication of Palestinians. “None of us is free till all of us are free.” The college has the duty to acknowledge and unpack the distinction between when somebody would possibly really feel uncomfortable and when somebody is definitely unsafe. As Frederick Lawrence, former president of Brandeis College, lately said, “You aren’t entitled to be intellectually protected. You might be entitled to be bodily protected.” This is a vital distinction. College students who declare that listening to slogans calling for Palestine liberation makes them “uncomfortable” are to be challenged–is that this intellectually uncomfortable, or are they honestly bodily unsafe? Nearly at all times, it’s the former. As Lawrence reminds us, mental discomfort can’t be a motive to stifle free speech.

In lots of instances, folks can really feel uncomfortable as a result of their long-held beliefs are being questioned or phrases or phrases are getting used about which they could not truly perceive the historical past and that means. The phrase ”from the River to the Sea Palestine will probably be Free” is one such slogan that has been recognized by Zionist college students as being antisemitic. This slogan calls on the aspiration of Palestinians for freedom. It requires entry to justice and equal rights for Palestinians all through Israel-Palestine – a name for the top of Israeli oppression, it isn’t a name to take away Jews.

Clearly and with all actually, we stand in opposition to antisemitism, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and all types of discrimination and hate. The Palestine liberation motion is evident that this isn’t a motion towards the Jewish folks, however relatively, one that’s against the insurance policies and practices of Zionism and of the State of Israel that systematically privileges one group of individuals (Jewish Israelis) whereas denying rights and freedoms to a different group (the Palestinians). Antisemitism, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian speech and precise hate-crimes are growing. In truth, many within the Palestine justice motion have robust stands on opposing all types of discrimination and bias. Because of this you will need to be clear on definitions of those types of bigotry. It is usually crucial to not conflate criticism of Israel ( a nation-state) with antisemitism (discrimination, tropes, stereotypes and damage to Jews due to their faith).

When it comes to trainings, now we have heard that Zionist pro-Israel group members are urging PSU to institute trainings on antisemitism. We assist such coaching provided that they deal with all types of bias and hate–antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Arab anti-Palestinian bias and combating hate towards any marginalized group. We all know from scholar stories that there are instances of anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab threats. Once more, all of our security and freedom is sure with each other’s.

Defending scholar security is important. So too is the duty to guard college students’ proper to freedom of speech. JVP-Portland condemns militarized police coming onto campus. Techniques used at PSU and different faculties of calling in an enormous police presence, committing brutal arrests, use of tear-gas and different chemical weapons, and issuing tutorial punishment usually are not acceptable in a democratic society, and positively not on a college campus.

Lastly, however not much less essential, we urge you to focus consideration and motion on the intense calls for made by the scholars. These calls to behave come at 7 months right into a believable genocide dedicated by Israel with unspeakable numbers killed, injured, displaced— having misplaced properties, recollections, and all that makes a life. The Israeli assault on Gaza has triggered extra deaths and, particularly deaths of youngsters than in another battle in trendy historical past. All of that is occurring with army funding and political cowl offered by the US authorities.

Firms who’re profiting mightily by manufacturing arms, offering expertise and in different methods supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza are held within the portfolio of the college’s investments. These similar firms are concerned all through Palestine in upholding Israel’s apartheid insurance policies that deny Palestinian rights. The scholars are demanding that PSU disclose their investments and divest from any which can be complicit in Israel’s insurance policies of apartheid, violations of human rights, and genocide.

JVP-Portland urges PSU Administration to:

● Interact instantly with the scholars and school in your campus and foster an setting of open discourse on the crucial matter of Palestine/Israel;● Enact no tutorial repercussions on college students concerned within the current protests. Campuses throughout the US who’re listening to and fascinating with their college students and school on these points are modeling the profound significance of educational freedom. We urge PSU to comply with this path.● Decide to an understanding within the methods teams who’re supportive of Zionism and the Israeli authorities conflate activism for Palestine with antisemitism and use that as their foundation to stifle free speech and punish Palestine activists.● Decide to not settle for nor codify any definition of antisemitism that characterizes criticism of the State of Israel as inherently being antisemitic.● Disclose and divest any funds that assist Israel from PSU’s portfolio.