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SJP at UCLA defeats “anti-divestment” bill

In October of 2013, a bill supporting “positive investments” and denouncing divestment was presented to the UCLA student government. It was eventually struck down by a 7-5-0 margin, preserving the ability of the council to engage on the question of divestment from companies that profit from the occupation of the Palestinian territories. Below is SJP at UCLA’s press release on the issue, as well as the following links to statements and reference materials:

1. Op-Ed in Daily Bruin on the irrelevance of “positive investment”

2. Berkeley president DeeJay Pepito’s solidarity statement

3. Irvine External Vice President Melissa Gamble’s solidarity statement

4. Stanford Students for Palestinian Equal Rights solidarity statement

5. Sam Bahour letter to UCLA regarding positive investment

6. Letter from Jewish solidarity activists

7. Letter from JVP-LA activist Estee Chandler

 

STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 23, 2013
SJPUCLA1 @ GMAIL.COM

ANTI-DIVESTMENT RESOLUTION DEFEATED AT UCLA UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

With 7 votes against and 5 in favor, the UCLA Undergraduate Students Association Council voted last night to defeat a resolution that threatened the ability for students to pursue divestment from companies tied to the Israeli occupation.

The resolution, entitled “A Resolution In Support of Positive Steps Towards an Israeli-Palestinian Peace” framed divestment as a source of tension on campus, while also calling for “positive investment” in a basket of companies loosely affiliated with both Israelis and Palestinians.

Over a hundred students attended the hearings, which lasted until 3am on October 23rd. Over the course of two and a half hours of public comment, over 40 students from a variety of campus communities spoke against the bill, arguing that its claims to support community engagement were hypocritical given the exclusion of SJP from the bill’s writing process; wide ranging criticism by Palestinians of “positive investment,” and criticism of the attempt to bar divestment from public debate. Two council members admitted to having taken free trips to Israel sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League, which has actively opposed divestment bills at the University of California system and campaigned against SJPs.

Council members responded by systematically removing clauses that spoke on behalf of Palestinians or limited their ability to engage in divestment activism. Eventually the bill lost support and failed when put to a vote. Students for Justice in Palestine board member Angélica Becerra commented “I am very happy with tonight’s outcome. It shows great resiliency on the part of SJP and that our community support is very strong.”

Members of SJP expressed hope that efforts to prevent debate around divestment would continue to be unsuccessful, while the statewide campaign against efforts to remove university investments from companies enabling the occupation would continue to gain momentum across the state.

Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA was founded in 2005 and is a coalition of students working in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle. 

Sadia Saifuddin’s confirmation as UC Regent is a defeat for anti-BDS lobby

Recently, anti-BDS groups Stand With Us and The Simon Wiesenthal Center attempted to defeat the nomination of divestment advocate Sadia Saifuddin to the position of Student Regent of the University of California. This attempt at punishing students for supporting BDS backfired, as Saifuddin was confirmed by resounding vote. We strongly oppose these McCarthy-ite tactics and the interference of lobbying organizations into student affairs.

The Los Angeles Times recently editorialized against the attack on her for supporting Palestinian rights. Supporters recently placed the following op-ed in the San Jose Mercury News:

Muslim UC regent: Sadia Saifuddin’s confirmation is heartening

Sadia Saifuddin’s confirmation as student UC regent designate is a landmark moment in the struggles of both the Middle Eastern Muslim South Asian (MEMSA) community and the wider community of Palestinian rights activists. Saifuddin, a 4th year social welfare major, demonstrated remarkable grace, composure and courage throughout the nomination process, even in the face of Islamophobic hate speech.

Outside political groups attempted to derail her nomination by unfairly smearing her as an extremist linked to terror. While David Horowitz railed against her in FrontPage Magazine, other groups such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center and StandWithUs organized petitions and asked their supporters to make public comments against her nomination.

This is not the first time that groups opposing divestment from companies that profit from the occupation of Palestinian land have tried to change the course of political debates and votes on UC campuses by intimidating students. But this direct attack on a student leader and the attempt to disrupt her career marks an escalation. However, we can take heart in the fact that her nomination received all but one vote.

The opposition to Saifuddin’s nomination was exclusively external. Saifuddin enjoyed near unanimous support from the student body at large. Students from a broad array of identities on campus wrote letters and spoke at public sessions. Students representing the MEMSA, Jewish and fraternity/sorority communities testified to Saifuddin’s tolerance and commitment to fighting hate speech of all kind.

Saifuddin was nominated as Regent not despite her political position but because of it. Among many other admirable qualities, her commitment to fighting Islamophobia and principled support for Palestinian equality is a significant reason so many students across the system supported her. Her divestment support is not seen as a liability but as an expression of her values. Students trust that she will uphold these values in her new position.

What does Saifuddin’s confirmation say about the intimidation campaigns to silence student speech?

It shows that intimidation has not stopped the growing student political movement. As last year’s political activity indicates, support for Palestinian rights is becoming a consensus on UC campuses, and attempts to portray the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement as anti-Semitic have become increasingly outlandish.

On the other hand, the chilling effect of this public Islamophobic campaign against a student leader has insidious effects we may never be able to measure. How many young Arab and Muslim leaders will now decide to stay out of politics to avoid being smeared as a terrorist?

Hopefully, Saifuddin’s shining example will inspire them to risk it, because it can be overcome.

Her rise to the position of UC Regent is another indicator of the growing prominence and political consciousness of the Middle Eastern Muslim and South Asian community. In the last year, student governments at Berkeley, San Diego and Irvine, as well as the UC Student Association, all passed resolutions supporting divestment. Similarly, the European Union last week made it official policy to refuse economic cooperation with any entities in Israel’s illegal settlements. Saifuddin’s confirmation is another signal that it is no longer a question of if the UC Regents will divest from companies facilitating human rights abuses against Palestinians, but when.

Sabreen Shalabi on the California Legislature, Appointment of Napolitano as UC President

UC Irvine SJP member Sabreen Shalabi was interviewed by the Electronic Intifada about SJP-West’s response to the California Legislature’s anti-BDS letter and the recent appointment of Janet Napolitano as UC President. You can hear the interview here:

 

Read more about the California Legislators letter here and find our more about the Napolitano appointment at The Electronic Intifada.

Students Respond to California Legislators’ Censorship

July 8, 2013

SJP West (Students for Justice in Palestine)

For Immediate Release:

Billions of US tax dollars and millions of University of California tuition dollars are invested in documented human rights violations in Palestine and Israel–including but not limited to acts of collective punishment, contributing to the illegal separation wall that annexes Palestinian land, operating in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and discriminating based on race, ethnicity and religion. Over the past year, seven UC campuses brought measures to divest from these documented human rights violations in Palestine before our student senates, including UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC San Diego. These divestment measures–which achieved a majority of ‘yes’ votes in 5 of 7 campuses–represent a growing movement around the state towards accountability to international human rights law and a basic standard of justice.

Yet over the past year, the California State Legislature has taken an increasingly anti-democratic stance against students organizing for universal rights and justice across the state. On May 31, over 30 legislators from the California State Senate and Assembly signed a letter to the University of California Board of Regents and Chair condemning and discouraging divestment measures on our campuses. This is not the first time members of the California State Legislature has tried to silence student democracy: last summer, the State Assembly passed the HR 35 resolution, which labeled criticism of Israel’s illegal and discriminatory policies against Palestinians as “anti-Semitic” and recommended broad censorship measures of UC students and faculty advocating for Palestinian rights and justice.

Our campaigns for justice have been supported by a multitude of groups with actual concerns for these human rights, including but not limited to Arab, Asian, Black, Chicana, Christian, Filipino, Latina, Muslim and indigenous student unions, groups representing justice for queer, working-class, and impoverished people, as well as Jews and Israelis who believe in realizing universal human rights for the Palestinians. To allege that “all sides” are not being heard and that divestment and human rights are “divisive” to our campuses is a cynical erasure of the coalitional unity that all of our campaigns maintain and of the multi-million dollar lobbying apparatus and multi-billion dollar industry involved in US support for Israel’s illegal policies.

The Legislature’s letter was anti-democratic and left us with no time to respond, coming during graduation and the end of the school year for most UC students. We now feel compelled to offer our response. In an effort to demonstrate the duplicitous and deceptive actions of the Legislature, we offer the following signed letter in the words of the Legislature itself (original letter included at the bottom), with alterations when appropriate:

 

July 8 2013

Dear Chair Varner and University of California Board of Regents:

As university students across the State of California, we denounce the California State Legislature for attempting to stifle student movements to divest from companies complicit in documented human rights violations in the occupied territories of Palestine.

We are concerned with the divisive impact on our university campuses caused by the California State Legislature and encourage efforts to engage the community in a more balanced and civil discussion on this issue. We are greatly embarrassed by the statement issued in May 2010 by the UC Regents’ Chair and Vice Chair in conjunction with the UC President, firmly rejecting the notion of divestment from companies complicit in documented human rights violations against the Palestinian people.

The statements and resolutions such as HR 35 that have been sent or passed by various bodies of the California State Senate and Assembly fail to foster dialogue and understanding among those with different opinions. We fear that such campaigns deepen the amount of power levied against the occupied Palestinians by the occupying Israeli military, drawing Palestinians and Israelis further away from universal justice and human rights. We believe that the California State Senate Legislature’s time and resources would be better invested not meddling in student democracy and encourage the legislature to work together in a productive manner.

We believe in free speech and encourage our state legislators to embrace a “true marketplace of ideas,” where all voices on this important issue are adequately weighted. There are so many voices across all of our campuses that have come together in unity around the call for human rights in Palestine. We believe that young leaders in the UC system have tremendous opportunities and motivation to build a better tomorrow. We believe that the acts of the California State Legislature are stifling that potential. We are empowered to advance initiatives that foster peace, justice and reconciliation; unfortunately, the California State Legislature appears to be creating an antagonistic environment for students who support human rights, universal justice and those opposed to the blatant obstruction of these ideals.

Once again, we are shocked and appalled by our elected officials for standing firm in their refusal to divest from to the violation of universal justice and human rights and present this letter as our response to their divisive and conflict-ridden resolutions and statements.

Sincerely,
Students and citizens of California, including:

UC Berkeley Black Student Union
UC Berkeley CalSERVE Board of Directors
UC Berkeley International Socialist Organization
UC Berkeley Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/xicana de Aztlán
UC Berkeley Pilipino Academic Student Services
UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine
UC Davis Students for Justice in Palestine
UC Irvine Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán
UC Irvine Students for Justice in Palestine
UC Los Angeles Amnesty International
UC Los Angeles Students for Justice in Palestine
UC Los Angeles Muslim Students Association
UC Riverside Students for Justice in Palestine
UC San Diego Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán
UC San Diego Socialists
UC San Diego Students for Justice in Palestine
UC Santa Barbara Students for Justice in Palestine
UC Santa Cruz Committee for Justice in Palestine
Cal Poly Pomona Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán
CSU Fullerton Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán
CSU Fullerton Students for Justice in Palestine
CSU San Marcos Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán
La Mission College Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán
San Diego State Amnesty International
San Diego State Arab Student Association
San Diego State Muslim Student Association
San Diego State Students for Justice in Palestine
San Francisco State General Union of Palestine Students
Santa Monica College Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán
Stanford International Socialist Organization
Stanford Muslim Student Awareness Network
Stanford National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Stanford Students for Palestinian Equal Rights
Stanford Students Say No To War
USC Students for Justice in Palestine

Joined by more than 800 California residents who have signed JVP’s letter.

Download the PDF of the letter here, and view it below:

Students Respond to CA Legislature Censorship by StanfordSPER

In Letter to Student Leaders, UC Berkeley Student External Vice President explains divestment and encourages similar legislation

As part of SB 160, the External Vice President of the Associated Students of the University of California Berkeley has written a letter to other UC student leaders explaining SB 160 and encouraging similar divestment bills across the UC. Download the letter in PDF form here.

Dear Fellow UC Student Leaders,

I am writing as the External Vice President of the Associated Students of the University of California Berkeley to share with you news of a recent bill passed by our student senate, SB 160, “A Bill in Support of Human Rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.” You can find a copy of this bill attached.

SB 160 is a positive step toward increased corporate social responsibility. Specifically, it calls on the Regents to engage in targeted divestment of university funds from companies profiting from human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Companies the UC invests in that are mentioned in the bill include Caterpillar, Cement Roadstone Holdings, and Hewlett Packard. These companies have assisted the Israeli military in the illegal demolition of Palestinian homes, the creation of an illegal separation wall beyond Israel’s internationally recognized borders, and in the systematic and discriminatory violation of Palestinian freedom of movement internal to the Palestinian Territories, as documented by numerous human rights groups cited in our bill and elsewhere. By profiting from these investments our university maintains a relationship of complicity with these crimes, which SB 160 seeks to stop. Not only are we as students benefiting from these human rights abuses, but some students among us also are suffering directly from them as well, notably Palestinian students across the UC system who are put in the discomfiting position of knowing that their school is profiting from the demolition of their own family’s homes and from a violent, discriminatory occupation that harms them and their loved ones.

Our bill is very clear to distinguish between the targeted divestment of international corporations – in this case American and European ones – and divestment from any and all things Israeli; SB 160 specifically demands targeted divestment from international companies that are directly benefiting from human rights abuses. No more. No less. The human rights abuses in question are consequences of Israeli policy, but the continued occupation is not sustained by the Israeli government alone. In fact, the tactic of divestment seeks to emphasize our own complicity in these abuses, and seeks to hold ourselves accountable to the basic maxim of ‘do no evil.’

This bill affirms the common humanity of all students, Israeli, Palestinian and otherwise,
We encourage you to do the same and support similar divestment at your campuses, if you have not yet done so.

All my best,

Shahryar Abbasi
ASUC External Affairs Vice President UC Berkeley

UC Davis launches divestment campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Students for Justice in Palestine at UC Davis

Email: ucdavis.sjp@gmail.com

ASUCD to vote on “UCD Resolution in Support of University of California Davis Corporate Accountability through Divestment from Corporations Profiting from the Illegal Occupation of Palestine”

(April 24, 2013) In the coming weeks, the Associated Students of University of California, Davis, (ASUCD) student government senate will be voting whether or not to divest from corporations that are profiting from human rights violations occurring in the occupied Palestinian territories. This will make the University of California, Davis the sixth UC to vote on a Divestment resolution this year, following UC San Diego, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley and UC Irvine.

The resolution targets Caterpillar, General Electric, Cement Roadstones and Raytheon, all of which are profiting from human rights violations in the occupied territories (violations which have been deemed illegal by the United Nations and the International Court of Justice).  The Students for Justice in Palestine (Davis), sponsored the resolution, joining a UC-wide effort to assert students’ agency and insist on socially responsible investments by divesting from corporations profiting from the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories.

Whether the resolution “UCD Resolution in Support of University of California Davis Corporate Accountability through Divestment from Corporations Profiting from the Illegal Occupation of Palestine,” passes or not, the Students for Justice in Palestine at UCD sees this as a beginning to pushing the University towards a more socially responsible investment.

Berkeley Chancellor Birgenau decries divestment vote, urges “dialogue” instead

To the members of the UC Berkeley community:

In the wake of the ASUC Senate’s passage of SB 160, “A Bill In Support of Human Rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,” I want to offer some thoughts about how we can move forward as a campus community. I also want to acknowledge that this may be the first step in a process that could, among other things, include consideration of other proposed bills that support Israeli-Palestinian cooperation.

As you all know, the ASUC is an independent student organization, and its vote in this matter will not change investment policy established by the Regents of the University of California. In addition, it is my personal opinion that targeting a single nation or state in this highly complex world is not appropriate and does little to advance the cause of peace and coexistence. Ultimately, we believe that engaging in dialogue on these difficult issues is the best hope that we have for achieving peace. It is the path that we hope world leaders will follow and our students will emulate.

This, of course, is not the first time that the Israeli divestment issue has arisen on this campus and I sincerely hope that we can avoid the rancor and divisiveness that arose in the wake of a previous ASUC vote in 2010, even as we support every student’s right to freedom of expression and acknowledge the diversity of views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  As Chancellor, a pillar of my vision for UC Berkeley has been to create a campus where equity and inclusion are fundamental values that sustain our principles of community and allow freedom of expression to occur through civilized and informed debate.

At the same time, all of our students must feel that the campus is a safe and inclusive environment for them, one in which they have the freedom to express their views without fear of intimidation. In fact, UCPD has informed me of its investigation into a recent incident on Sproul Plaza in which, according to preliminary eyewitness accounts, a Berkeley student handing out pro-divestment flyers was struck in the face. I am deeply concerned by these initial reports and must state in no uncertain terms that this behavior is unacceptable in our community.  We will take firm steps to bring perpetrators of such acts to justice. Our Principles of Community require that debate on our campus–even debate over emotional and important issues such as these–remain civil and respectful.

I and members of my administration will continue to work hard to build and sustain the sort of campus climate that I believe we all benefit from. We will also continue to support efforts like The Olive Tree Initiative, a student-led endeavor that is fostering dialogue and discussion here on campus and in the Middle East. Above all, we hope and expect that the ongoing discussion and dialogue about the conflicts in the Middle East will happen in a manner that respects and acknowledges the views and beliefs of others.

Sincerely,
Robert J. Birgeneau

Link to original