Criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitic - Tell the regents and your assembly member

[palestinianrightssacregion at list.omsoft.com]

Please take these three important actions to protect free speech, academic freedom, and our ability to work for Palestinian human rights:


► Contact your Assembly member <http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/>  and tell them to vote no on SCR 35 <http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SCR35> , another thinly veiled attempt to silence students at UC and CSU campuses <https://sacramentodocs.wordpress.com/no-to-scr-35>  who are working to end their schools’ complicity with the Israeli government’s egregious, well documented violations of human rights and international law. 



Kevin McCarty – 916-319-2007; Assemblymember.McCarty at assembly.ca.gov
Ken Cooley  916-319-2008; Assemblymember.Cooley at assembly.ca.gov
Jim Cooper 916-319-2009; Assemblymember.Cooper at assembly.ca.gov
Bill Dodd – 916-319-2004; Assemblymember.Dodd at assembly.ca.gov

 


►Please sign the petition to tell the State Department to revise its definition of anti-Semitism <http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17832&track=kickerphoto> .



►Please sign the petition to tell UC President Napolitano and the UC Regents: criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitic <http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18000> 


Forwarded message from Jewish Voice for Peace:

Dear Supporter,

Have you ever criticized Israel? Do you oppose occupation and human rights abuses? According to a policy supported by Janet Napolitano, President of the University of California, you could be branded an anti-Semite.

Last week, Napolitano told NPR's Here and Now that she agrees with the State Department's definition of anti-Semitism, a definition that includes political criticism of the policies of the state of Israel. Worse still, she told the UC Regents that she wants them to adopt that definition at their upcoming meeting in July.

We all agree that anti-Semitism is deeply wrong, and we need to fight it wherever it exists. But  this overbroad definition will do nothing to fight anti-Semitism. Instead of protecting Jewish students from bigotry, it’ll silence critics of Israeli state policies -- Jewish and non-Jewish alike.

We’re sending a letter to the University of California Office of the President and the UC Regents, telling them that criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitic. 

 <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=2qVwhf8U8byKjoMOYwq5f5Sbn%2F7XEQW%2F> Will you add your name, and ask them to reject this definition?

The “State Department definition” of anti-Semitism is a dangerous and un-enforceable definition, because it includes clauses about “demonizing,” “delegitimizing,” and “applying a double-standard to the state of Israel,” prohibitions that are so vague that they could be, and have been, construed to silence any criticism of Israeli policies.

In addition to being a JVP’s Academic Advisory Coordinator, I’m also an academic. I’m passionate about fostering critical thinking in my classroom. This definition limits open debate, and could potentially restrict research and teaching in multiple fields. We can’t have great universities without academic freedom, and we can’t have academic freedom when certain political opinions are being muzzled.

Whether you’re a lifelong Golden Stater and a UC grad, or a California transplant, we need your voice. 

 <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=YokJftyPnH3hWS54Q3YbzpSbn%2F7XEQW%2F> Tell the UC President and Regents that criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitic.

It’s vital that we fight anti-Semitism, and every other form of vile bigotry. But this official definition of anti-Semitism won’t protect students, it’ll silence them.

Thank you for fighting back.

Onward,

Tallie Ben Daniel, PhD

 

http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/images/tallie%20signature(1).JPG

Tallie Ben Daniel, PhD
Academic Advisory Council Co-Ordinator

P.S.  <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=PFAAdT7i4KSk%2BXaY8JAUF5Sbn%2F7XEQW%2F> A report from the Palestine Legal Support and the Center for Constitutional Rights: "Accusations of Anti-Semitism Used to Deter Advocacy for Palestinian Rights."  <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=8Pf17ULwRQlHBFey%2FWbWvJSbn%2F7XEQW%2F> Tell Janet Napolitano that academics and activists must not be silenced.

 

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