Reply to MACA Part 5
“SJP and EJC issued a statement on social media to Rutgers’ administrators, labeling it “STRIKE 1”after they received notice that the chairperson of the Rutgers’ committee scheduled to meet with them to discuss BDS, was unavailable. In a joint Instagram post by SJP, National SJP and AMP, a picture of President Holloway was posted with his eyes scratched out. The post read “we declare this officially to be “STRIKE ONE.” The groups further stated “we stand firmly against Zionist donors . . . and anti-Palestinian fear mongering groups such as the Anti-Defamation League. Our commitment to complete divestment from Israeli apartheid, human rights abuses, and settler-colonialism remains steadfast.” Challenging Rutgers administration, they further stated the “university’s authority” . . . of “dictatorial power over student expression” [which] “provides space for Zionism to flourish on our campus” “refuse[d] to participate in this sham process. Participating in these disciplinary processes only serves to legitimize the authority that the administration presumes to have over us . . .” [10]”
It is important to emphasize that the University has consistently responded to popular demands from anti-Zionist students with threats of state violence and attempts at legal repression through disciplinary measures. Therefore, while this statement may seem "ominous," it does not constitute an actual threat of violence. It is also worth noting that the individuals making these statements have themselves faced real threats and attacks, including the real vandalism of the Islamic Life Center!
This letter completely ignores the fact that this rhetoric, tying all pro Palestinians together as “terrorist sympathizers” and denying the reality of “Israel’s” genocidal violence create the conditions for anti Palestinian and Islamophobic violence.
“What happens to Rutgers’ leadership after Strike 2 or Strike 3? These statements are ominous and perhaps even a threat, and reflect another example of rank intimidation by SJP and EJC. This abhorrent conduct has no place in America or in an educational system. Why is it being tolerated at Rutgers?”
Hopefully, it won’t come to that, and the administration will begin to heed the will of its student body. Rutgers is currently tolerating the activities of SJP and EJC largely because they are popular among students. The majority support them or at least support their right to free speech. However, as previously discussed, Rutgers is already tightening security and implementing new policies that may stifle free speech on campus. The surge in new policies suggests that the administration spent the summer devising ways to silence students rather than finding ways to engage with them and enhance the educational value of the institution!
“EJC appeared at, at least two separate Board of Governors’ meetings to allegedly make an appeal for BDS. At these meetings, EJC disrupted and berated the Board with profanity, stating, among other things, “You mother fuckers in suits. You're all psychopaths and you [are] actively manufacturing a shitty fucking world for us all,” and “you embolden genocide, you embolden racists, you embolden Zionists.” [11]”
A+
“SJP and EJC, at the minimum, are terrorist supporters, and militaristic style “expressions” of Jew hatred along with rank intimidation and harassment, vitriolic racial slurs and calls for illegal activity, have no place in an educational institution.”
MACA are at minimum genocide supporters and Karens who hate free speech. They know that the tyranical system they support is dying fast, so they are attempting to shut down the majority of Rutger’s students.
“Without intervention by a third party through legal, legislative and/or other action, it is clear that Rutgers has no intention to protect its Jewish students.
We urge you to take action to permanently remove EJC and SJP from Rutgers. We likewise urge you to take definitive disciplinary action against those students who violated politicies and laws. They have no place on campus.”
What is being done to make sure that Palestinian and Pro Palestinian students are being protected from groups like MACA?