Contrary to what one might expect, dialogue on this campus surrounding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict is limited if not nonexistent. Over the past few years there have been numerous instances of the silencing of pro-Palestine voices. On April 9, 2014, WashU administrators cancelled a scheduled town hall on the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement during which Palestinian-American poet and activist, Remi Kanazi, was scheduled to perform. By cancelling this event, the administration blatantly censored campus discussion of Palestine/Israel. Unfortunately, this curtailing of free speech was not an isolated occurrence. Rather, it is representative of a wider trend on this campus of the silencing of Palestinian/pro-Palestinian voices. There are numerous student groups catering to students with pro-Zionist sentiments. There is, however, not a single Student Union-recognized group that exists for students possessing an alternate view. Nevertheless, we must persist. This past year, students came together to establish a space for those who felt silenced by the administrative-supported pro-Zionist establishment. A Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at WashU is in the works. As an incoming student, you have a chance to aid us in bringing this to fruition.
Contact us: [email protected]
Contact us: [email protected]
The Silencing of Minority Voices
From Another Writer:
The silencing of minority voices is a disturbing occurrence, especially at an institution that claims to uphold academic freedom and inclusion such as Washington University in St. Louis. However, one such restrictive “gag order” occurred just a year and a half ago, when slam poet and Palestinian activist Remi Kanazi was slated to participate in a student-organized panel regarding Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions in Israel. The panel was also planned to include voices revealing the other sides of the debate: with scholars representing the Israeli government’s perspective, as well as scholars examining BDS through academic, historic, and social movement lenses. The purpose of the event was to unpack the nuanced and complex issue of BDS, investigating the issue through varied perspectives. The panel was not meant to propagate one argument over another, but rather, to simply learn.
Unfortunately, the university’s insistence on shutting down the panel stopped most students from enhancing their knowledge of the BDS Movement. Because Mr. Kanazi had already been paid, he visited Wash U and presented to a small group of students, rather than the entire university public. Later that evening, a student led protest regarding the absolute disregard of academic freedom allowed interested students who had been previously barred from the official event to have to opportunity to hear Mr. Kanazi speak. While the university was not translucent of where the pressure to shut down the event came from, it seemed clear that risking anger over an “incendiary” voice was not on the its agenda.
This specific occurrence does not stand alone, but reveals greater campus faults: censorship driven by fear and the alarmingly one-sided presentation of information regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Ending a student-run event simply because campus and community members felt upset that the content did not match their specific beliefs clearly violates academic freedom. Fear over hearing a discordant opinion led to blatant censorship. Furthermore, on a campus where Palestinian voices are in the minority (Wash U is one of the few institutions that, up until a year ago, lacked a student group representing Palestinian interests), the stifling of a strong Palestinian activist voice only served to perpetuate this imbalance. When great inequity in representation exists, minority voices must be magnified, not silenced.
Our university claims to foster discussion, present diverse lenses, and provide its students with the chance to responsibly construct full and deep understandings of complex issues. Yet, failing to give voice to Palestinian perspectives leaves this utterly impossible.
The silencing of minority voices is a disturbing occurrence, especially at an institution that claims to uphold academic freedom and inclusion such as Washington University in St. Louis. However, one such restrictive “gag order” occurred just a year and a half ago, when slam poet and Palestinian activist Remi Kanazi was slated to participate in a student-organized panel regarding Boycotts, Divestments, and Sanctions in Israel. The panel was also planned to include voices revealing the other sides of the debate: with scholars representing the Israeli government’s perspective, as well as scholars examining BDS through academic, historic, and social movement lenses. The purpose of the event was to unpack the nuanced and complex issue of BDS, investigating the issue through varied perspectives. The panel was not meant to propagate one argument over another, but rather, to simply learn.
Unfortunately, the university’s insistence on shutting down the panel stopped most students from enhancing their knowledge of the BDS Movement. Because Mr. Kanazi had already been paid, he visited Wash U and presented to a small group of students, rather than the entire university public. Later that evening, a student led protest regarding the absolute disregard of academic freedom allowed interested students who had been previously barred from the official event to have to opportunity to hear Mr. Kanazi speak. While the university was not translucent of where the pressure to shut down the event came from, it seemed clear that risking anger over an “incendiary” voice was not on the its agenda.
This specific occurrence does not stand alone, but reveals greater campus faults: censorship driven by fear and the alarmingly one-sided presentation of information regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Ending a student-run event simply because campus and community members felt upset that the content did not match their specific beliefs clearly violates academic freedom. Fear over hearing a discordant opinion led to blatant censorship. Furthermore, on a campus where Palestinian voices are in the minority (Wash U is one of the few institutions that, up until a year ago, lacked a student group representing Palestinian interests), the stifling of a strong Palestinian activist voice only served to perpetuate this imbalance. When great inequity in representation exists, minority voices must be magnified, not silenced.
Our university claims to foster discussion, present diverse lenses, and provide its students with the chance to responsibly construct full and deep understandings of complex issues. Yet, failing to give voice to Palestinian perspectives leaves this utterly impossible.
Washu students for justice in palestine statement
14 October 2015
We at Wash U Students for Justice In Palestine are deeply saddened at the recent flare up of violence in Israel and Palestine and our hearts go out to the Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost loved ones. We sincerely hope that the situation does not further escalate.
However, we would like to make it clear that while we are always open to constructive and informed dialogue, our actions, decisions, politics, and organization as an autonomous body are NOT accountable to those of any other group. We respectfully ask that Washington University Students for Israel refrain from making further accusations or demands of us over social media or otherwise. We feel that this kind of browbeating and hostility is in no way conducive to a campus climate which encourages a diversity of opinions and perspectives.
Furthermore, we reject WSI’s characterization of the recent developments as simply a “wave of Palestinian terrorism.” We feel that this portrayal strips the violence of its historical context, and ignores the current brutal crackdown by the Israeli military on Palestinian protesters, which has already claimed at least 25 Palestinian lives, injured over 1000, and may, according to rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, amount to violations of International Law.
More fundamentally, we feel that any meaningful discussion of the current situation must begin with the basic fact that Israel is the OCCUPYING country and the Palestinians are an OCCUPIED people. This means that while both Israelis and Palestinians can be victims of individual acts of terrorism or hate crimes, only Palestinians are subjected to the structural violence that Israel has implemented on a massive scale to sustain and even deepen the occupation. We therefore find it hard to take seriously WSI’s demand that we “condemn terrorism” when they themselves haven’t even acknowledged, let alone condemned, the oppression of an entire people.
Finally, we are deeply hurt by WSI’s accusation that we do not support peace. Wash U Students for Justice in Palestine will always strive to speak in the name of justice and healing, and we firmly support and are open to engaging with all efforts that strive for peace.
We at Wash U Students for Justice In Palestine are deeply saddened at the recent flare up of violence in Israel and Palestine and our hearts go out to the Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost loved ones. We sincerely hope that the situation does not further escalate.
However, we would like to make it clear that while we are always open to constructive and informed dialogue, our actions, decisions, politics, and organization as an autonomous body are NOT accountable to those of any other group. We respectfully ask that Washington University Students for Israel refrain from making further accusations or demands of us over social media or otherwise. We feel that this kind of browbeating and hostility is in no way conducive to a campus climate which encourages a diversity of opinions and perspectives.
Furthermore, we reject WSI’s characterization of the recent developments as simply a “wave of Palestinian terrorism.” We feel that this portrayal strips the violence of its historical context, and ignores the current brutal crackdown by the Israeli military on Palestinian protesters, which has already claimed at least 25 Palestinian lives, injured over 1000, and may, according to rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, amount to violations of International Law.
More fundamentally, we feel that any meaningful discussion of the current situation must begin with the basic fact that Israel is the OCCUPYING country and the Palestinians are an OCCUPIED people. This means that while both Israelis and Palestinians can be victims of individual acts of terrorism or hate crimes, only Palestinians are subjected to the structural violence that Israel has implemented on a massive scale to sustain and even deepen the occupation. We therefore find it hard to take seriously WSI’s demand that we “condemn terrorism” when they themselves haven’t even acknowledged, let alone condemned, the oppression of an entire people.
Finally, we are deeply hurt by WSI’s accusation that we do not support peace. Wash U Students for Justice in Palestine will always strive to speak in the name of justice and healing, and we firmly support and are open to engaging with all efforts that strive for peace.