Open letter to all Teachers and Administrators Unions at NJ Public and Private Schools, Including Colleges / Leadership and Ranks:

Open letter to all Teachers and Administrators Unions at NJ Public and Private Schools, Including Colleges / Leadership and Ranks:

SEE PRESS RELEASE AND EVENT LINK AFTER LETTER
THU SEPT 12 9PM SCOTT HALL 221,
COLLEGE AV, RU, NEW B, NJ

The speech and academic freedom rights of all faculty, administrators and students across the state of NJ are threatened by a companion set of proposed NJ law that will, among other things, define questioning “Israel’s right to exist” as an act of “Anti-Semitism” and will go so far as to criminalize a whole set of opinions that are part of the normal discourse when discussing US foreign policy.  The laws proposed are so wide ranging and  so vague as to cast a legal cloud over any legitimate discussion on US war and peace in NJ schools.  The sanctions proposed are draconian and there is even reference to criminal penalties including fines and incarceration.

The proposed law NJ (S4001/ NJ A5755)  has widespread bipartisan support including the sponsorship of NJ Democrat Senate Kingpin Sweeney.  I invite you to see for yourself what is in this repressive legislation that could come to the floor this fall: 

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S4500/4001_I1.HTM?fbclid=IwAR0j9En15NQPYi28dWO2PxMURcmaiUF6x5Nz0-SWQnjmnMIX4ZXCrcVBWys 

I also invite you to review the careful legal analysis of Palestine Legal on this topic:
https://palestinelegal.org/news/2019/7/15/proposed-new-jersey-law-aims-to-censor-speech-in-support-of-palestinian-rights-warn-civil-rights-groups?fbclid=IwAR35RBCTQOJTna6V4A9Scuhxe1_jqy8aKGScR5U3w58FSzWwdxFxYyL-VbY

Here you can check out the strong leadership provided by NJ-CAIR on this issue:
https://www.votervoice.net/mobile/CAIR/campaigns/67363/respond?fbclid=IwAR1s0wxHt2yJDwan93KvwhghxgizYiAg7aQutGqBO5kMPW2KNNaLBaUvOA0

The question for faculty, staff, administrators, members of unions and organizing graduate students, for students, members of student organizations that address current issues, student unions, etc. - do you recognize the detrimental impact this proposed law could have on your profession, on student participation, on the curriculum, on the careers of faculty with a history of being outspoken on US foreign policy issues, across the board on the over all atmosphere on college campuses and in public and private schools?

Everybody’s job will be at the whim of a potential smear under this repressive legislation.

We invite all levels of participation from union members, leadership and those organizing campus and school unions.

There are many ways to participate:

1. First and foremost - read the proposed bill linked above and the statements about the bill.

2. There will be organized events at Rutgers Newark and New Brunswick and likely other campuses, representation of union officials, or members for identification purposes, as well as rank and file organizations and organizing committees are encouraged to issue statements and participate in the panels / speak out events.

3. Take a formal position in your local or committee and send it to the state and national urging them to join in the statement, as well as copy to entire NJ Senate, Assembly, Governor and candidates in 2019 for Trenton Senate and Assembly positions.

4. Conduct classroom discussion, organizational discussion and other educational efforts and join in opposition to US war escalations - to show that these kinds of laws will not prevent peace organizing on colleges and in schools.

Please text 908-881-5275 if interested in engaging in any of the above proposed actions or if you have other ideas as to how to best stop this.

In struggle against imperialism and against this NJ repressive law proposal!

Stop S4001/ NJ A5755!

Bob Witanek 908-881-5275

Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2796238433736499/

More links to information from this article: 

http://njnouswarinme.blogspot.com/2019/07/antiwar-organizing-could-soon-be-crime.html


TEACH IN TO OPPOSE "REPRESSIVE" NJ PROPOSED NJ S4001
THU SEPT 12 9PM SCOTT HALL 221,
COLLEGE AV, RU, NEW B, NJ
FACEBOOK LINK: https://www.facebook.com/events/488356271724456/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT BOB WITANEK 908-881-5275

Several student, faculty and community organizations are coming together to "put a stop" to attempts to pass what they are calling "repressive" NJ S4001 that conflates opposition to Israeli policies to anti-Semitism and attempts to impose punitive measures for presenting discussions that cast criticism on Israel and its policies and US relations with Israel.

The opponents of the bill, sponsored by NJ Democrat Senate strong man Sweeney, believe passage of the bill will have a chilling impact on the ability to hold "open and honest" consideration of US foreign policy as regards relations to Israel as well as hamper efforts to offer "solidarity to the Palestinian people."

One of the organizers, Rutgers Alumnus Bob Witanek recently wrote a letter calling upon teachers unions on campuses and in public schools to work together toward the defeat of the measure.

Sherry Wolf of AAUP at Rutgers has stated that an "Academic Freedom Committee" has formed and this group will also take up opposition to the bill.

Opponents of this measure will present a short "teach-in" on the topic, Thursday, September 12, at Scott Hall 221 at 9pm.

It will feature presentations by Wassim Kanaan of American Muslims for Palestine, NJ Chapter, Mazhar Syad. a Rutgers MA recipient who was engaged in the successful effort oppose Condolezza Rice's receipt of an honorary degree and serve as keynote speaker in 2014 graduation ceremony to protest her role in the US war on Iraq and Bob Witanek who protested CIA at Rutgers in the 1980s  and more recently in 2018.  Others invited including the organizations Anakbayan, Students for Justice in Palestine, Rutgers AAUP and the Academic Freedom Coalition, among others.

Pizza will be available at event.

For more information, call or text 908-881-5275