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STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE CRITICIZES LA CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
Daily Bruin: University of California - Los Angeles
June 3, 2014 Tuesday
By camayak
Students for Justice in Palestine released a statement Monday
criticizing a Los Angeles City Council resolution that calls for
action against a recent pledge asking undergraduate student government
leaders to refrain from taking free or sponsored trips with external
lobbying groups.
The City Council resolution asks University of California officials
to implement policies that protect students from intimidation and
harassment in response to the pledge.
In early May, multiple student groups asked candidates participating
in the Undergraduate Students Association Council election to pledge
to not go on free or sponsored trips with the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee, the Anti-Defamation League and Hasbara Fellowships
and non-student centered groups while holding office. The majority
of candidates participating in the election signed onto the Joint
Statement on USAC Ethics.
On May 27, Los Angeles City Council member Bob Blumenfield,
a councilman from the third district, presented the resolution
calling for the UC Board of Regents and the President of the UC
system to establish policies to "ensure that students are protected
from bullying and harassment."
The Los Angeles City Council resolution also says the Joint Statement
on USAC Ethics is part of a larger movement which focuses on
anti-Israel tactics.
The Students for Justice in Palestine press release says that the City
Council resolution, which has not been deliberated yet, misrepresents
the goals of the pledge.
The City Council resolution says the Joint Statement on USAC ethics
labels these groups as Islamophobic when they are "well known and
reputable non-profit organizations."
"I'm disappointed by (the) continued mischaracterization of the
Anti-Defamation League and other pro-tolerance groups, and offended
that those who support Israel are implied to be Armenian Genocide
deniers," Blumenfield said in an email statement.
Omar Zahzah, a second-year comparative literature doctoral student
and the incoming president of Students for Justice in Palestine,
said the Joint Statement on USAC Ethics statement was not meant to
target pro-Israel groups.
Zahzah said groups in the statement were mentioned because of their
involvement with student leaders, campus politics and their history
of hosting speakers who some say are Islamophobic and involved with
the denial of the Armenian genocide.
Students for Justice in Palestine said in their press release that
the resolution also does not mention all of the concerns raised by
students about lobbying groups listed in the statement.
"The fact that the Los Angeles City Council is now considering
delegitimizing the efforts of students to hold their representatives
accountable by promoting transparency, integrity and inclusivity
is beyond disturbing," Students for Justice in Palestine said in
a statement.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, UC President Janet Napolitano and Bruins
for Israel at UCLA also released statements criticizing the Joint
Statement on USAC Ethics earlier this month. In their statements,
Block and Napolitano said they think the pledge targets groups with
certain political perspectives and is harmful to communities at the UC.
For more coverage on the events leading up to the release of this
statement, read here and here.
Compiled by Jessica Doumit and Samantha Tomilowitz, Bruin Contributors.
http://dailybruin.com/2014/06/03/students-for-justice-in-palestine-criticizes-la-city-council-resolution/
From: Baghdasarian
Daily Bruin: University of California - Los Angeles
June 3, 2014 Tuesday
By camayak
Students for Justice in Palestine released a statement Monday
criticizing a Los Angeles City Council resolution that calls for
action against a recent pledge asking undergraduate student government
leaders to refrain from taking free or sponsored trips with external
lobbying groups.
The City Council resolution asks University of California officials
to implement policies that protect students from intimidation and
harassment in response to the pledge.
In early May, multiple student groups asked candidates participating
in the Undergraduate Students Association Council election to pledge
to not go on free or sponsored trips with the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee, the Anti-Defamation League and Hasbara Fellowships
and non-student centered groups while holding office. The majority
of candidates participating in the election signed onto the Joint
Statement on USAC Ethics.
On May 27, Los Angeles City Council member Bob Blumenfield,
a councilman from the third district, presented the resolution
calling for the UC Board of Regents and the President of the UC
system to establish policies to "ensure that students are protected
from bullying and harassment."
The Los Angeles City Council resolution also says the Joint Statement
on USAC Ethics is part of a larger movement which focuses on
anti-Israel tactics.
The Students for Justice in Palestine press release says that the City
Council resolution, which has not been deliberated yet, misrepresents
the goals of the pledge.
The City Council resolution says the Joint Statement on USAC ethics
labels these groups as Islamophobic when they are "well known and
reputable non-profit organizations."
"I'm disappointed by (the) continued mischaracterization of the
Anti-Defamation League and other pro-tolerance groups, and offended
that those who support Israel are implied to be Armenian Genocide
deniers," Blumenfield said in an email statement.
Omar Zahzah, a second-year comparative literature doctoral student
and the incoming president of Students for Justice in Palestine,
said the Joint Statement on USAC Ethics statement was not meant to
target pro-Israel groups.
Zahzah said groups in the statement were mentioned because of their
involvement with student leaders, campus politics and their history
of hosting speakers who some say are Islamophobic and involved with
the denial of the Armenian genocide.
Students for Justice in Palestine said in their press release that
the resolution also does not mention all of the concerns raised by
students about lobbying groups listed in the statement.
"The fact that the Los Angeles City Council is now considering
delegitimizing the efforts of students to hold their representatives
accountable by promoting transparency, integrity and inclusivity
is beyond disturbing," Students for Justice in Palestine said in
a statement.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, UC President Janet Napolitano and Bruins
for Israel at UCLA also released statements criticizing the Joint
Statement on USAC Ethics earlier this month. In their statements,
Block and Napolitano said they think the pledge targets groups with
certain political perspectives and is harmful to communities at the UC.
For more coverage on the events leading up to the release of this
statement, read here and here.
Compiled by Jessica Doumit and Samantha Tomilowitz, Bruin Contributors.
http://dailybruin.com/2014/06/03/students-for-justice-in-palestine-criticizes-la-city-council-resolution/
From: Baghdasarian