"As protests against #Israel’s genocide in #Gaza, ethnic cleansing on the #WestBank, and apartheid repression within ’48 harden into a proliferation of encampments on US university campuses, still more have popped up across the globe—in Asia, Europe, Mexico and elsewhere."
Norman Finkelstein at Columbia University's Gaza solidarity encampment
"The most powerful weapon you have is the weapon of truth & justice. You should never create a situation where you can be silenced on the grounds of feelings & emotions."
Columbia President Shafik’s remarks were all about hurt feelings. "That whole language has completely corrupted the notion of free speech & academic freedom."
"Nearly 100% of Campus Gaza Protests Have Been Peaceful"
Of 553 US campus protests, 97% remained non-violent.
Of the 3%, half were from clashes with police sent in to clear peaceful protests.
"If someone is speaking more about 'violent encampments' than they are about violent genocide of the Palestinians, they have a problem reflective of deep and dangerous biases."
#StudentProtestors: you need police liason officers with blonde hair and big eyes to humanize yourselves before raids. Send the Tiffanys in to talk to the police multiple times, bring baked goods, get them to see you as their kids.
This goes for allies visiting the student encampments too, engage with police officers as professionals. Tell them the community supports the students and the police, as members of the community, should be protecting our youngest and brightest.
The futher police 👮are ostracized from our communities, the more they are demonized, the easier it will be for them to commit violence. We need to remind them that they are people.
This applies particularly to white allies. Especially white men!
The more white middle aged white dudes we can get out to the encampments have a “man to man” talk about not beating up college students with police officers, the less police violence we will see. “Remember they’re our daughters and sons age” works!
Norman Finkelstein at Columbia University's Gaza solidarity encampment
"The most powerful weapon you have is the weapon of truth & justice. You should never create a situation where you can be silenced on the grounds of feelings & emotions."
Columbia President Shafik’s remarks were all about hurt feelings. "That whole language has completely corrupted the notion of free speech & academic freedom."
"The courageous stance of students across the country in defiance of genocide is accompanied by a near total blackout of their voices. Their words are the ones we most need to hear.
"The genocide has awakened a sleeping giant. Let us pray the giant prevails."
"Nearly 100% of Campus Gaza Protests Have Been Peaceful"
Of 553 US campus protests, 97% remained non-violent.
Of the 3%, half were from clashes with police sent in to clear peaceful protests.
"If someone is speaking more about 'violent encampments' than they are about violent genocide of the Palestinians, they have a problem reflective of deep and dangerous biases."
"Nearly 100% of Campus Gaza Protests Have Been Peaceful"
Of 553 US campus protests, 97% remained non-violent.
Of the 3%, half were from clashes with police sent in to clear peaceful protests.
"If someone is speaking more about 'violent encampments' than they are about violent genocide of the Palestinians, they have a problem reflective of deep and dangerous biases."
Even though Syracuse is holding commencement, including many visitors to campus today, they are profiling non-students over at the #studentprotests encampment for #freepalestine.
"What started as a student encampment at #Columbia University in New York City three weeks ago has now turned into a global #StudentMovement, expanding to Europe, Australia, Canada and beyond. We’ll get the latest from the campus grounds and ask what is next for the global #StudentMovementForGaza."
The Boston Globe refused to publish a commissioned piece on how students are demanding justice for Palestinians.
"If you find yourself in opposition to our movement, I ask you this: When was the last time a student revolution was on the wrong side of history, and state repression on the right side?"
Author Ruya Hazeyen, Students for Justice in Palestine, UMass Amherst.
Yesterday, #Amsterdam had a violent crack down on #StudentProtests as there has been in Germany and America. Today, the Dutch took to the streets to actually object to the beating of their students. What a difference when the community cares:
Noting the ugly antisemitism his own family has dealt with, Robert Reich writes that he's glad that President Biden has confronted, antisemitism, but:
"I also worry that by speaking out against antisemitism without acknowledging what has sparked the student protests across America, he is conflating those protests with antisemitism.
By and large, the protests are not motivated by antisemitism."
"After many talks with demonstrators and faculty, it seems clear to me this protest movement is centered on moral outrage at the killings of tens of thousands of innocent people in Gaza, most of them women and children.
Many of the demonstrators are themselves Jewish.
Jews have been involved in these protests for the same reason Jews were so involved in other social justice movements —"
"such as the struggles for women’s rights, worker’s rights, civil rights, voting rights, free speech, and LGBTQ+ rights. And against the Vietnam War, apartheid in South Africa, and the Iraq War.
The oppression that Jewish people have experienced for hundreds if not thousands of years has taught Jews the necessity of standing up to injustice — whatever its form and whenever it appears."
"The courageous stance of students across the country in defiance of genocide is accompanied by a near total blackout of their voices. Their words are the ones we most need to hear.
"The genocide has awakened a sleeping giant. Let us pray the giant prevails."
~100 educators in Berlin have stated their support of protesting students: "We stand with our students & defend their right to peaceful protest.”
Germany’s Education Minister called the statement "staggering. Instead of taking a clear stand against hatred of Israel & Jews, university occupiers are being turned into the victims."
Police said 79 protestors were arrested & 80 criminal investigations initiated.
It is really incredible just how big the student revolution has become. This is Lausanne in Switzerland, a country hitherto on a par with Germany or even worse in oppressing criticism of Israel. #studentprotests
#studentprotests A Jewish student at Cambridge giving a tour of their encampment. Really moving to watch and hear - especially his explanation of why he is wearing his Kippah - because protesting is a religious act; something he is doing because of his faith.
#Budget#UKPolitics This article by Gary Stevenson is so good, please read every word of it.
“Whatever Jeremy Hunt says, traders know the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer. And they’re paid millions to bet on it.”
This is what the world is - it is run by a minute elite for a minute elite and the rest of us, the masses, the natural world, we just don’t count. It is a #TragedyOftheNonCommons (will reshare my own piece on this below 1/n)
#FollowTheMoney 🧵 36/n Here a positive, progressive use of money flows:
1400+ Columbia University alumni from its 20 schools have pledged to withhold all “financial, programmatic, and academic support” until school meets demands related to divestment, student discipline, and community safety.
Group website says over $63 million of donations at risk. #Gaza#studentprotests