Protect student free speech & other actions for Palestinian rights

[palestinianrightssacregion at list.omsoft.com]

►Contact your California Assemblymember <http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/> * and ask them to vote NO on SCR 35, <http://sacbds.org/free-speech/>  which is headed to the Assembly floor.  SCR 35 <http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=scr_35&sess=CUR&house=B&author=stone_%3Cstone%3E>  is another thinly veiled attempt to label criticism of Israel as anti-Jewish in order to silence students at University of California and California State University campuses who are working to end their schools’ complicity with the Israeli government’s egregious, well-documented violations of human rights and international law.  SCR 35 references a poorly worded statement about anti-Semitism included on the U.S. State Department <http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17832&track=kickerlink1>  website that includes examples of how criticizing Israel could (falsely) be considered anti-Semitic.   
  In concessions to objections, the bill was amended to add “Nothing in this resolution is intended to diminish the rights of anyone, including students, to freely engage in any speech or other legal activity protected by the United States Constitution, including that which is critical or supportive of the policies of any country.” However, this addition did not remove the link to the State Department definition, leaving the door open for actions challenging Israel’s policies to be considered anti-Semitic, that could lead to charges of hate speech, etc.  

  Students are currently protected against discrimination on the basis of their religious beliefs, ethnicity, etc., so SCR 35 is not necessary, except as a vehicle to intimidate students from legitimately criticizing and organizing to challenge the abuses of the Israeli government. <https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/americas/17688-senior-un-officials-slam-israeli-human-rights-abuses> 
  * Email Sacramento area Assemblymembers: Kevin McCarty <https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD07> ; Ken Cooley <https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD08> ; Jim Cooper <https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD09> ; Bill Dodd <https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.php?district=AD04> 

 

► Contact your Senators <http://senate.gov/>  and Representatives <http://www.house.gov/>  and ask them to demand that Israel end its abuses of Palestinian children <http://blog.endtheoccupation.org/2015/06/briefing-on-capitol-hill-examines.html> .  Tell them to support the call by 19 of their colleagues <http://mondoweiss.net/2015/06/palestinian-children-behind>  that the State Department make the protection of Palestinian children a priority in the United States' relationship with Israel.  Call 202-224-3121 or click to email: Reps. Matsui <https://matsui.house.gov/email-representative-matsui> ; Bera <https://bera.house.gov/connect-with-me/email-ami> ; or Garamendi <https://garamendi.house.gov/contact-me/email-me>  and Sens. Boxer <https://www.boxer.senate.gov/contact/shareyourviews.html>  & Feinstein <https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me>  

 

► Sign petition urging Secretary of State Kerry <http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=17832&track=kickerlink1>  to press the Netanyahu government not to attack  <http://rt.com/op-edge/270145-gaza-strip-flotilla-float/> the Gaza flotilla.  

 

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

► Support Palestinian rights: sign petitions for Palestine at: www.sacbds.org/petitions and don't buy products <http://www.sacbds.org/products>  or invest <http://wedivest.org/>  in companies that support Israel’s occupation & apartheid.

 

► Stay updated on news affecting Palestinian rights:  Ma’an News Agency <https://www.maannews.com/> ; B’Tselem <http://www.btselem.org/> ; Electronic Intifada <https://electronicintifada.net/> ; Mondoweiss.  Click for more resources <http://sacbds.org/news-resources/> . 

 

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