The House passed the bill by a 320-91 vote. It adopts a def. of antisemitism that could be used to penalize criticism of Zionism, which many Jews oppose, & the actions of IL.
The ACLU notes that the bill directs the DOE to consider “an overbroad definition of antisemitism that encompasses protected political speech when investigating allegations of discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act-."
Getting ready to head out to start setup & then facilitate a memorial healing ceremony. If it starts to rain too much - we'll do it at different outdoors location, with overhead shelter.
My friend & I are going to bring some fire extinguishers & some other essential supplies to the new #StudentSpring#SolidarityWithPalestine encampment at #UVIC tomorrow. We're collecting other needed donations for drop-offs all through the new week 🍉☮️🇵🇸✌️💗🙏🍉
"All of this trouble really started in Congress -most of what's being labeled as antisemitism is criticism of IL for its conduct in Gaza, & criticism of the US. for supplying IL with heavy weapons & for blocking UN resolutions demanding a cease-fire. The MOC responsible should be reviled by their colleagues; & college faculties should demand: ldrs of their insts. should uphold the principles of freedom of speech that're intrinsic to a great u-." #1A#StudentSpringhttps://newrepublic.com/article/181213/outside-agitators-campus-protests-members-congress
Happy to say that there's an #antiGenocide protest encampment here in #Boise, near the Capitol. At least 50 folks there when I went an hour or so ago.
Also relieved that our local newspaper's piece on it seemed subtly supportive, rather than making up a bogus "both sides" framing that's all too common.
> The protest in Boise began Friday night at the Anne Frank Memorial, where protesters left flowers to “honor victims of #genocide everywhere,” Boise to Palestine, a group that says it is seeking the liberation of #Palestine, wrote on its Instagram.
> The Idaho chapter of IfNotNow, a national organization that describes itself as movement of American Jews advocating to “end U.S. support for Israel’s apartheid system,” in a post on Instagram called for an end to the “mass slaughter of Palestinians” and pushed back against claims that equated anti-Zionism with antisemitism.
I got to visit University Baptist Church today, which has served as a police-free sanctuary to #UTAustin students involved in Student Spring. They can rest, get simple medical care, supplies and snacks and are even cooked dinner each night. I'm not religious but it's moving to see a church upholding the tradition of being a place of refuge for victims of state violence. #StudentSpring#Austin#Palestine
with all the reminders that today is the 54th anniversary of the #KentState#massacre, and what with the Biden approved state violence unleashed on students protesting #genocide; now is as good a time to remember:
STUDENTS AND THE UNEMPLOYED ARE PART OF THE WORKING CLASSES
i've always felt we need a #labor#union for the unemployed: students, stay-at-home parents and caregivers (married and otherwise) all fall in that category but aren't counted.
"The thing that so many ppl are resistant to deal with: protests aren’t just about Gaza anymore but also #stateviolence & what confrontations over power will look like as our crisis worsens. & how that & Gaza & all our other major issues are tied together."
-JY Sexton
--A prof filming police was beaten, slammed, dragged—suffering broken ribs & broken hand
–A prof who confronted police pinning a student to the ground was herself thrown down -arrested-:
Truth: "Fact-based reporting here, backed up by video & reporters who witnessed it. Peaceful pro-PA encampment at UCLA was violently attacked by counter-protesters chanting pro-IL slogans on Tues eve. Police were then called in, & arrested the victims... as counter-protesters dispersed & many chanted "USA" & "back the blue". Highly controversial topic, with emotions high on all sides, but factual reporting cuts through what actually happened-."
-C Leonnnig
"Virtually every major wave of campus protests in the past sixty or so years has been met with condemnation by established elites. And virtually all--civil rights, anti-war, anti-apartheid--over the decades have proven the protestors to be on the right side of history."
-David Rothkopf
And then there were four: “Rutgers and the University of Minnesota now join Northwestern and Brown in successfully reaching deals to peacefully end their encampment protests.”
The fundamental flaw of well-meaning politicians who have the right values and want to do the right thing is that the longer they serve, the more most of them come to fear chaos more than the injustice that drove them to politics.
This leads to 2 things: they're slow to recognize dramatic changes in the status quo, and they instinctively defend the status quo against such changes. #JoeBiden is a perfect example of this, as demonstrated by his recent speech about #StudentSpring. #politics
KKK marching down a public road carrying banners saying DEATH TO JEWS is anything but peaceful.
christofascists SCREAMING DIE AND GO TO HELL to people at abortion clinics is anything but peaceful
a horde of white dudes carrying tiki torches & chanting JEWS WILL NOT REPLACE US is anything but peaceful
1 & 3 refer to #Skokie & #Charlottesville, while 2 is still on-going across the country; yet none elicited the kind of police violence Biden approves against #StudentSpring
New joint statement by members of #UCLA’s history department, compiled from testimony of faculty present at encampment during various periods and in response to last night’s police violence against students. We make 6 explicit calls of the university administration. Read at link below.
Spoke to @CNN this morning about the violent dismantlement of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment at #UCLA. The horrific escalation by Gene Block’s administration is sacrificing our student safety and academic community for political clout.
The encampment exemplified democracy, and its destruction only furthers the decay of what little civil society we have left.
The modern American university is a RW inst. The right’s dominance of academia +reign over U's is destroying higher EDU -only way to save the American U is for students & profs. to take back control of campuses.
Block’s decisions have resulted in rubber bullets - which can be lethal - fired at our students. There is word from those on the ground that a student was shot in the face. Faculty and students arrested, as police was cheered on by counter-protestors.
The same violent mob of white supremacists and alt-right supporters of Israel violently attacked the camp two nights ago. The level of state violence and suppression of free speech rivals that of dictatorships.
Our department statement about the shameful actions of Gene Block which put our students at risk. I have much to say about what’s been going on at #UCLA and little of it good. Block must resign.
The students at the encampment, with whom I spent a part of today, are an example of solidarity and democracy. Their right to protest on campus must be defended.
Circulating word is that #LAPD plans to disperse #UCLA Palestinian solidarity encampment at 6. A number of groups including faculty and campus unions are planning on rallying in defense. Meanwhile an administrator has entered the camp to negotiate