palestine solidarity mov't grows nation-wide
Campuses As the Zionist state of Israel continues its war against the Palestinian
people, activist on campuses across the nation have rallied in support of
the Palestinian people. In February, some 450 student activists attended
the Student Conference of the Palestine Solidarity Movement held in Berkeley
and launched a national organization, Students for Justice in Palestine
(SJP). The conference initiated a nation wide campaign demanding divestment
from Israel and an end to US Aid to Israel.
links to sponsoring organizations of the Palestine Solidarity Rally Committee:
Students Against War
Duluth Area Green Party
Lake Superior Socialist Action
Youth for Socialist Action
links to sites with lots of information on the Palestinian struggle:
Al Awda - the Palestine Refugee Right to Return Coalition
Palestine Alternative Information Center
On April 9th, SJP chapters established at campuses across the country, held
a national day of action in support of the Palestinian struggle. In
Berkeley, a rally and demonstration of 1200 students was held demanding the
University divest from Israel. A non-violent sit-in was held a Wheeler
Hall, resulting in 79 arrests. Students arrested face possible suspension
from school in addition to criminal charges. Following this demonstration,
the University administration suspended the SJP chapter from holding events
on campus. This action was a clear attack on a burgeoning political
movement and has set off a free speech movement reminiscent of the campaign
in the 1960�s of the same name. SJP members have continued to table on
campus, �in defiance of what we believe to be an unjust restriction on SJP�s
right to speak, distribute literature and assemble.� SJP activists in
Berkeley intend to continue defying the administrations direct attack on
their political rights and all activists should come out in support of their
actions.
Other campuses have continued building public support for the divestment
campaign. SJP activists at The University of Illinois at Urbana have held
weekly protests. Students from North Carolina State, Duke and the
University of North Carolina held a joint demonstration. SJP activists at
DePaul University in Chicago held a rally of 75 students in the Student
Center. Similar events took place at campuses across the country. SJP
activists were also key in mobilizing students for the April 20th
demonstrations in Washington.
New layers of student activists have been drawn into the campaign to end
the US-backed Israeli regime�s war against the Palestinian people. This
movement comes in the midst of a growing international solidarity movement
that has included demonstrations of millions across the world in support of
the Palestinian movement. The new campus based solidarity actions are a
promising component of this developing mass movement.
The article above was written by Dave Bernt, who is a member of Youth for Socialist Action and the DePaul University chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.
