NJ Anti War Agenda #NJAntiWarAgenda

Saturday, December 5, 2020

FightBackBetter DOT COM - Toward Systemic Transition

To suggest article links / organizational links or submit narrative statements to FightBackBetter dot com, just drop them into this free form entry box.

We are rolling out a website called FightBackBetter Dot Com that will respond to the Biden transition site BuildBackBetter dot com.

The site will promote narratives and supportive articles and organizational links - as well as other organizing tools - and build a data structure to hopefully motivate data driven intelligence to enhance and expedite organizing efforts particularly to assist outreach for proposals and organizing projects to the appropriate interested and engaged organizations and individual activists.

The following describes in more detail the purpose and following that are links to the documents where work is being done in preparation to load the site:

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR FIGHTBACKBETTER DOT COM SITE

Trump’s transition from power is welcome by most . . .and we are not through with him - the demand for justice and accountability will be supported by this site.

But as far as what we are transitioning to - - this during this time of crisis FighBackBetter DOT Com intends to leverage the power of organizing resistance structures toward SYSTEMIC transition. Biden is the “new boss” and in many ways, he is “same as the old boss” - especially when it comes to servicing the demands of multinational corporate power and a tiny gang of billionaire cutthroats who continue with their project of gaining ownership and control of the overwhelming majority of the world’s wealth and resources.

Those powerful forces have the same demands on both of the servant parties for military support toward their international ambitions to steal land and resources and control development toward their profit making goals and to impose more severe austerity and dismantling of infrastructure domestically within the USA and assure that basic human needs like health care, affordable nutrition, clean water and air, education, recreation and other basic needs are not supported by government. The survival of the majority of the people in this nation and indeed the rest of the world depends upon a transition to a system that serves the needs of the people - and no longer serves the demands of capital.

This site intends to document and help organize information about the incoming Biden administration in a useful way to support the development of fightback efforts around the full myriad of issues - including challenges to the systems that continue endless war, austerity and exploitation regardless of who is in command at the White House. FightBackBetter DOT com will also provide links and details about how to engage with organizations and individuals dedicated toward a truly systemic transition..

FightBackBetter DOT com deploys a wiki approach for collaborative development of issues, organizational structures, the gathering of supportive links and other development of these resources.

FightBackBetter DOT com will build organizational data structures that will provide the information we all need to better collaborate and coalesce and bring new people into our fightback efforts. Users will be able to find organizations to engage by issue, geographical location and other criteria.

FigthBackBetter DOT com will facilitate collaborative proposal methodology to bring forces together to consider questions as to how to collectively channel resources and effort toward more effective and results oriented organizing.

FigthBackBetter DOT com will invite membership of those who are collectively building the data structures to drive this process - and the data from the individual membership tables will be further integrated into the organizational data structures.

The most important aspect of this site is that it will use a collective collaborative approach across multiple issues and across organizational lines - with the potential to provide data supporting all aspects of struggle.

You are in at the ground floor - looking foward to our collabs! WORK DOCUMENTS FOR FIGHT BACK BETTER DOT COM WEBSITE

Documents Index for FightBackBetter

Initial proposal / overview

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13TyIzx1aYOU6x8ml0RWGevao50e7y_JUysLf4tGtFnw/edit?usp=sharing

Narratives Guideline
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iw0LbjkOxgU0KmW36Fk8s0O6erGkPyGTF52vUJJji6M/edit?usp=sharing

Transition Document - SoP for Website
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VzgP1tysjaZTi94kN5onDgoFeOsOGWshfLQ0HkvcZiM/edit?usp=sharing

Issues List
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1paxPnwirAHCBy_dERp4UUeSYxv5fXAO9Ej6FKOLk34I/edit?usp=sharing

Narratives Drafts

War / Militarism - Draft
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tvuj5awdBu4-gvvAMuBG7cbEk6cDlzL3meqT4melGgs/edit?usp=sharing

Hold Trump Accountable - Draft
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NnbpUudcb1sYxiiCCu3O8MPS2hlX40zP99x3IYTeY-Q/edit?usp=sharing

Shut ICE Camps - Draft
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DroY-C2r8QCn7ADIOUP6d6ladCiQC_PneJ2KmZ7TqWM/edit?usp=sharing

Venezuela - Draft
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i3Ew5Ee7Q9hMie2iDuwQP0j6YqLd3BLzO2W_RZ5E2QI/edit?usp=sharing

Yemen - Draft
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UDbsG0JOWq9MQwzjW-JX8tLVf9hIrsFZN43f2-0gwFQ/edit?usp=sharing

Climate - Draft
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12dPmL7QRnWb_z7Nqq_OQaoud9kz5XKT-iEcO9S8lOlk/edit?usp=sharing

Sanctions - Draft
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cmudoIW7skncCFCx--mCLNJJ6GzGKoZ22eoViwxaZlA/edit?usp=sharing

Student Debt - Draft
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11H-ly64Ix60FgWI8zZQGcd9ieWuPbWIdd1FtWXZrACI/edit?usp=sharing

Palestine - Draft
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LhhN3o2DrI3GMWAdyra0H0KeRbfIyIBG_CNeQ__XXio/edit?usp=sharing

Flournoy - Draft

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nxg6Qlyvb8Ej2W_DsZeMlGkGyvQk5gvbIjmo1Ecvgrw/edit?usp=sharing

COVID - Draft
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uki2mKKq_l0Ljbfg67dWzKQpKmJwlPAzLf5gDh-D9ec/edit

Assange - planning doc only https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aM7PAIVDRfsX1UQ1Kjh_ENUXQY2nKXzM7RrrYm1hMCs/edit?usp=sharing

Technical

Design
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LY1xUFIHeXxh-6ppdoDXkhGDvgduG6GQ1wplyxU7fiA/edit?usp=sharing

Issue Processing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H1UuUZ31dnOuV9wn4P8gHYzqFDuJpeGuSYNMFPb6C18/edit?usp=sharing

Planning
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a1_Tn51QNzqnlPgkAbSkHeoGLiCcqHA72H0NiBXZjtI/edit?usp=sharing

Data sample
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KaYbxbTQzvG7VHqMAkntHtXGooDKr9Ch/view?usp=sharing

Organizations
Sample Philadelphia Structures
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lbqyByHGytsmqofgz25-BIghUKv1bwMF9bY558dne1o/edit?usp=sharing

Forms
Organizational Entry

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoPBjJ7IAxPBO0ix5Stau5iMQtU7AgNQrXqnCJvIbcWEv_xA/viewform?usp=pp_url

Sample of Issue Presentation (Venezuela) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1njNY9bJIoThJJB2F-jaWjZup5VDpiE6anJJYY_95c8U/edit?usp=sharing

To suggest article links / organizational links or submit narrative statements to FightBackBetter dot com, just drop them into this free form entry box.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

NJ’s Response to Election: Join the DC Nov 7 Antiwar Demand of Black is Back in DC

On the heels of the farce of the US 2020 presidential election - regardless of which war mongering party takes pre-eminent control over the US imperialist war machine - NJ has begun making plans to join our comrades of Black is Back Coalition, Black Alliance for Peace and dozens of other organizations in Washington DC.

Black is Back Nov. 7 Protest Information

For the 12th consecutive year, the Black Is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations will march on the White House, November 7, this time under the themes “Black Power Matters,” “Down with Colonialism” and “Black Community Control of the Police.” Coalition chairman Omali Yeshitela said community control of police is “the political demand that speaks directly to the issues” that have propelled unprecedented levels of protest in the United States, this year.

According to a NJ coordinator of the Black is Back Coalition Lisa Davis, "I say that we must fight COVID-19 AND colonialism - on both fronts. Black people especially don't have a choice! Black people got no reprieve from police brutality during the lock down! And the wars are ongoing. They didn't stop. So we have to be intentional about building up our immune system, taking vitamin C, D, and Zinc. And we have to mask up and fight. DC gives us the chance to do that."

Bob Witanek editor of #NJAntiWarAgenda paper stated: "On November 7, the election decision will be unsettled and the US will be in great uncertainty after a severely flawed vote. It is important to take up our positions in the streets to show that we are prepared to fight for an end to US wars, sanctions, military occupation, intimidation and threats - as much as the war it has declared on its own people through the COVID rip, massive street repression and lack of infrastructure, health care, housing, food, water, clean air to serve the people. The importance and timing of this event as multiple crises cascade are clear and evident." NJ will be organizing car pooling and encouraging travel via AMTRAK for those who can afford to attempt to add significantly to the numbers of participants.

We are seeking drivers with vehicles willing to accept 1 - 2 additional passengers (or to go solo if they prefer) - with costs for tolls, gas and parking to be shared - as well as passengers who can participate.

We are intending to take every precaution for attenders to avoid COVID-19 exposure - recommending traveling with open vehicle circulation, required masks and other precautions. We will be doing temperature checks before departure - and will ask anyone with a temperature or showing other symptoms prior to departure to opt out of participation.

Cars / vans will leave Newark, Lincoln Park on Broad Street, 7 am and return around 10pm on November 7. AMTRAK travelers we recommend you depart Newark (time) or earlier and please be advised that you must make your reservations as early as possible as the rate (currently about $80 round trip ) will increase as the date approaches.

If you are interested in participation - as a driver, passenger or making your own arrangements on Amtrak - we urge you to immediately contact 908-881-5275. (Lisa we can use my # if you don’t want to use your number but if you want to use your number - that is fine too.)

The following is the Black is Back statement announcing this year’s event:

CALL TO BLACK PEOPLE’S MARCH ON WHITE HOUSE!!! BLACK POWER MATTERS: DOWN WITH COLONIALISM! BLACK COMMUNITY CONTROL OF THE POLICE!

The Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations (BiBC) is calling on colonized and unrepresented people of the U.S. to join us November 7-8 for the Black Power Matters march on the white house opposing the reactionary U.S. agenda being imposed on Africans and others within the U.S. and around the world.

Millions of people within the U.S. have been pushed out of legitimate political life by the rulers of this country. The two ruling parties have both put on their ritual shows called conventions, formally nominating their respective representatives for U.S. president and unveiling their two tame programs that represent the interests of one single white colonial-capitalist ruling class.

More and more people have come to the conclusion that neither the Republican nor the Democratic Party represents the will of the people. However, most people feel that there is no other option than to vote for one or the other.

Many people, especially Africans, are being mobilized to vote because they are afraid of Donald J. Trump, the sitting Republican Party representative of the ruling class.

No matter what is exposed about the corruption and reactionary politics of Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden, many can see no alternative to “holding their nose” and voting for him in opposition to Trump’s reelection. This is despite Biden’s defining role in increasing the prison population in the U.S. by 500 percent which, with the help of the Clintons and others, contributes to the mass incarceration of African people to the point that one in eight prisoners in the world is an African in the U.S.

The fact that Biden played a major role in unleashing the current version of police terror reigning supreme in our communities with his infamous “Crime Bill” is outweighed by fear of a re-elected Republican Trump regime. The fact that Biden’s chosen running mate, Kamala Harris has won the hearts of U.S. rulers as their enthusiastic top prosecutor in California, ruthlessly filling prison cells with Africans and other oppressed and working people is minimized by an assumption that voters are being forced to elect the “lesser of two evils.”

Our Call to march on the White House on November 7th is designed to give coherence to the great discord that has been experienced in the U.S. over the recent years, months, and weeks. Millions of you who have never participated in protest in the past have come out to the streets in protest and outright rebellion because the nature of the colonial-capitalist system is being exposed in bold relief daily.

Outright police murder of African people can no longer be ignored and tolerated by many. The colonialist-capitalist system is becoming increasingly terrifying in the middle of a pandemic where healthcare, like automobiles and refrigerators are commodities only available to the rich and where the colonized bear the brunt of the crisis.

The capitalist economy, based on profit and private ownership of the means of production, cannot provide security for the people. Joblessness with unproductive and underpaid employment is the order of the day and no empty promise of $15.00 per hour over a number of years can ever begin to address the crisis for the oppressed. Meanwhile trillions of public dollars are being shoveled into the coffers of Wall Street and the U.S. ruling class.

U.S. cities are being transformed by entire communities of homeless refugees living demoralizing lives of despair beneath highway underpasses where if they are lucky the city might pass out tents to qualifying wretches as if to ameliorate the results of ruthless gentrification that is too common in African and other colonized communities. An estimated 40 million people in the U.S. are facing eviction before the end of this year and thousands of cars line up daily across the country to receive meager supplies from food giveaways.

At the same time, the U.S. government of both parties is waging wars around the world in a desperate attempt to maintain its role as despotic hegemon.

U.S. special operations forces are initiating coups and engaging in other bloody, mostly secret counterinsurgent activities throughout the Continent of Africa. They assault Africa confidently based on the assumption of no opposing constituency within the U.S. and because the two ruling parties represent a single white ruling class that is united in preserving the system and U.S. world domination.

The Democratic Party has not voiced a single word of opposition to the starvation sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and Venezuela or the low intensity warfare against the government of Iran currently occurring under the Trump Republican regime.

Both ruling parties attempt to divert the people’s criticism of the domestic colonial military forces commonly referred to as police. Trump and Biden oppose even minor, cosmetic changes such as the symbolic call to “defund the police.” They both liquidate the role of the police as an arm of the state with the proclamation that the majority of the police are honest, good people.

Both Trump and Biden refuse to call for Black Community Control of Police as the logical interim movement to minimize police violence against black people while negating the colonial domination of our people. Neither of them acknowledges the existence of the political prisoners, many of whom have been locked up for generations for fighting against the unjust colonial system that is finally coming into public view for many.

Despite the thousands of protests that have come to characterize this period, it is clear that the voices of the most dynamic sector of the population in the U.S. was not at the Republican or Democratic Party conventions and will never reach the agenda of either party.

Despite all the efforts being made to criminalize the ongoing independent mass expression of opposition to the current Trump regime and the existing system, the struggle continues, as it must.

This Call by the Black is Back Coalition is a call to bring a coherent message of dissent. It is a Call to give collective leadership to the spontaneity that has characterized much of our opposition up to now.

The Black is Back Coalition has a National Black Political Agenda for Self-determination that pre-dates the 2016 election of Donald J. Trump and the fantastic protest and uprisings of today.

The National Black Political Agenda that was forged during months of a democratic process with conventions in 11 states and the District of Columbia that culminated in a National Convention for Self-determination in Washington, DC during the Democratic Party Obama regime.

This is a Call by the Coalition for a massive turnout in November for the Black Power Matters March that also directs us to fight against colonialism and for Black Community Control of the Police.

This is a Call that puts the people in charge, as it should be, regardless of which ruling class party or representative is in office. Regardless of whether you feel compelled by necessity to vote for Biden and Harris or to refrain from voting at all in the presidential election, this is a Call to you to help shape our own independent agenda.

This is a Call to cast your vote on November 7-8 with your presence at the Black is Back Coalition mobilization. Because Black Power Matters! Down With Colonialism! Black Community Control of the Police!

Friday, January 3, 2020

NO US WORLD WAR III - NO WAR ON IRAN! CONDEMN KILLING OF IRANIAN LEADER

Just trying to consolidate the several announcements of NJ area protests against the US murder of Iranian leader Qassem Soleimani . . . if you have information - text 908-881-5275 with the links or details.

Here are some events:

https://www.facebook.com/events/640538880020288/

Saturday Jan. 4 11 am, Times Square 47th and Broadway. NYC.

On Saturday, January 4 the ANSWER Coalition, CODEPINK and others are calling on people from around the United States to organize local demonstrations to demand: NO MORE U.S. TROOPS TO IRAQ OR THE MIDDLE EAST! U.S. OUT OF IRAQ NOW! and NO WAR/NO SANCTIONS ON IRAN!

In response to the massive protests in Iraq following the latest U.S. aerial assault that killed scores of Iraqis, Donald Trump has ordered 750 more U.S. troops to the Middle East and potentially 3,000 more. This is in addition to the 5,200 U.S. troops already stationed in Iraq. Every U.S. president over the last 28 years has ordered the bombing of Iraq. The decision by Donald Trump and the Pentagon to launch new air assaults against Iraqis in the past week ignited nationwide resistance by Iraqis who want to reclaim their full sovereignty and do not want Iraq to be used in a U.S. war on Iran.

More than a million Iraqis have died during the past 28 years as a consequence of U.S. occupation, bombings and sanctions. Tens of thousands of U.S. troops have either been killed or suffered life-changing wounds. The U.S. government has spent more than $3 trillion dollars in the on-going occupation and bombing of this oil-rich country. Instead of taking the United States out of this endless war, Trump is building up U.S. forces in the region and threatening a war with Iran.

https://www.facebook.com/events/588073998693703/

Sunday, Jan 5, 1 - 4pm A United States war with Iran would be an unmitigated disaster, morally and religiously indefensible. The assassination of Iran’s General Soleimani on Iraqi soil and the mobilization of thousands more US troops to the Middle East can only be viewed as an attempt to start yet another war for oil in the Middle East. At a time when the climate crisis is so dire that an entire continent is literally on fire we cannot permit this to be done in our name. Join us as we say No More Blood for Oil - No War with Iran! Military Park, Broad Street, Newark NJ

https://www.facebook.com/events/848016775642007/

Saturday Jan 4 Join us in Somerville this Saturday to protest against the act of aggression that could lead us to war! Say No War in Iran at 12pm in front of the Marine Recruitment Center (41 W Main St, Somerville, NJ 08876.) People will be rallying across the country to oppose barbaric war that serves imperialism and capitalism at the expense of innocent lives.

Monday Jan 6 Newark NJ
https://www.facebook.com/events/506057293349069/

Join North NJ Democratic Socialists of America and other local activist groups to show that there is a real anti-war movement here in Jersey!

Where: US Army Recruiting Station
858 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
When: Monday, 1/6/2020 @ 3pm

#NJforPeace #NoWarWithIran #DropTheMIC

More Details to Come

https://www.codepink.org/01042020?fbclid=IwAR0mgJjduyskta0rzmouebDJQXi1lPKtQ3g0X3sDdG8vw6emlKERWJHWBUc

On Saturday, January 4 the ANSWER Coalition, CODEPINK, Muslim Peace Fellowship, Veterans for Peace, United AntiWar Coalition (UNAC), United for Peace & Justice (UFPJ), Feminist Foreign Policy, World Beyond War, Popular Resistance and Voices for Creative Nonviolence are calling on people from around the United States to organize local demonstrations to demand: NO MORE U.S. TROOPS TO IRAQ OR THE MIDDLE EAST! U.S. OUT OF IRAQ NOW! and NO WAR/NO SANCTIONS ON IRAN!

Monday, November 25, 2019

Victory for NJ Free Speech - Targum Says (paraphrasing) #NoNJS4001

The editors of NJ Daily Targum struck a major blow to efforts led by NJ Senator Sweeney to usher in a wave of repression against students and faculty at public universities and public schools. Sweeney has sponsored a proposed bill that would target anti-war and pro Palestinian activism - anyone that criticizes Israel - for sanction and possibly even criminal charges. The Rutgers Daily Targum - in its long held tradition of being a bastion of advocacy for free speech has stated today, November 25, clearly and unequivocally - opposition to the bill even calling upon students to actively engage in work to stop it!

I have to admit that over my long years I had tussled with Targum reporters and editors - as a political activist at Rutgers in the 70’s and 80s. I might have thought that they made me personally and activists in general look silly upon occasion. (I was doing street theatre in a horse costume on College Avenue once - long story.) In their minds maybe we were looking foolish - and you never know - we all stumble here and there. But The Daily Targum as long as is I can remember has always been a bastion for free speech - and today they once again ring that bell!

This is a clarion call for all the state newspapers (many have already denounced this attack on free speech) to reiterate their opposition and especially all of the campus newspapers across the state of New Jersey need to read today’s Targum editorial - and come out swinging with your own defense to inform the students on ALL OF THE CAMPUSES of NJ about these dangers! That is a most important impact that the Targum editorial can have.

But we all need to take the link to the editorial and tweet it to Assembly and Senators as well as to news outlets - especially campus - throughout NJ, the US and world!

As the Targum states:

“First, nationalities and ethnicities are completely separate matters — something this bill seems to feign ignorance of. Regardless of your personal opinions on Israel, criticizing a government's policies is not the same as criticizing a race, religion nor ethnicity.

Through this bill, legislators have effectively made collectivized verbal critiques against Israel's government a hate crime, which is damaging by any metric. No institution, whether it be a government, an activist group, a religion or a philosophy, has the right to be above criticism.

The bill’s vague language makes it especially dangerous. While the intention of the bill is to squash anti-Semitism at public universities, a section of the bill defined an aspect of anti-Semitism as “applying a double standard to Israel.”

What exactly a “double standard” means in this case is unclear. Can we not criticize one side of an issue unless we criticize the other as well? That is not how critique works — it is completely possible to key in on one issue without focusing on every single injustice occurring in the world at once.

With the loose language used in this bill, it is quite transparent that lawmakers plan to use it to limit free speech for student media, activist groups and on-campus talk in general.

Looking at the bigger picture here, any attempt to legislate speech must be either critically examined or outright fought. It is acceptable to outlaw genuinely endangering speech, but this is firmly not one of those cases.

Silencing criticism is not acceptable. Attempting to shut down activism and protest is a violation of our fundamental duty outlined in the Bill of Rights.”

Role of All Marxists Leninist Union in Raising Alarm on NJ S4001 at Rutgers

The dangers of this bill were brought to the attention of the Rutgers community at the AMLU meeting at Scott Hall, on September 12, in a panel discussion hosted by All Marxist Leninist Union that was broadcast live on Facebook by NJ Revolution Radio. The event was coordinated between AMLU and #NJAntiWarAgenda with participation "as individuals" of members of American Muslims for Palesine.

AMLU also brought it to the attention of the Rutgers campus through an op-ed that the Daily Targum ran on October 29. 2019.

The AMLU op-ed excerpted below detailed some of the activities among university and high school students opposing the proposed repressive law.

“The anti-war and anti-imperialist struggle would most certainly be crippled, as U.S.-Israeli imperialism is undeniably a global force at the center of many destructive wars and conflicts across the world.

The ability of groups to form coalitions among the anti-imperialist Left would be strictly limited under the bill in such a way that our liberties of free assembly would be curtailed.

The NJ S4001 Bill, if passed, would persecute any group or individual in educational institutions like high schools and universities who would be “delegitimizing Israel by denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination and denying Israel the right to exist.”

That . .. . bill, in the end, would prohibit Students for Justice for Palestine (SJP) and Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) clubs and speakers on campus and thus restrict their right to speak and protest against Israel’s war crimes. . . .

But we are not alone in our opposition to this bill. A statement from the Rutgers campus group Anakbayan Rutgers stated, “We must unwaveringly say that fighting for the basic rights to life, land, water, and democracy for Palestinians through boycott or any other means is not a crime, and it is not anti-semitic. The passage of this unjust bill would fly in the face of both academic freedom and freedom of dissent, and more primarily the Palestinian people and their just struggle for liberation.”
____
Meanwhile, high school students concerned about their rights to advocate in the public schools have started a petition which stated in part: “We are opposing NJ bills S4001 and A5755 introduced by Sen. (Stephen) Sweeney (D-N.J.) and Assemblywoman (Annette) Quijano *. This proposed law dangerously conflates criticism of Israel with Antisemitism. It would punish legitimate dissent of U.S. foreign policy and its support for Israel. We support student rights to free speech in and out of school, (and to) criticize American foreign policy.”

Protesting US backed Bolivia coup

Members of AMLU were recently instrumental leading a protest on College Avenue (Rutgers, New Brunswick) to condemn the US supported murderous right wing coup against the legitimately elected president of Bolivia Evo Morales. See report. Israel exports its products of violence, counter insurgency expertise, its cyber hack and surveillance products to fascist regimes all over Latin America so it is important for the effort to oppose US intervention and war in Latin America to protect our rights to criticize Israel’s direct role in these deadly policies.

There is more news today on the attempt to repress and criminalize solidarity and anti-war voices in NJ. A volunteer lobbyist, requesting anonymity given the current repressive political climate was in Trenton talking to Assembly members. The lobbyist stated that most Assembly members they met are opposed and some who were originally supportive are now opposed.

Ironically though, one assembly member, Gary Schaer, who has a significant Arab constituency as he represents Passaic, NJ, with a concentration of Arab voters, is a strong supporter of the repressive bill. It is ironic because his constituency will be impacted as members in the community support the victims of violence in the Middle East, including Palestinian victims of Israeli violence. The lobbyist stated that we need to stay strong to defeat this bill and that he was told that a similar bill could be introduced - even if this one is defeated. The lobbyist urges everyone to stick to the fight!

AMLU and the Daily Targum were in harmony on a major point in each of the two op-eds - the need for student action. As AMLU stated, “We invite you to join the New Jersey Committee to Protect Dissent to protect the rights of students and faculty to discuss and criticize U.S. foreign policy and to support the struggles of the Palestinian people.”

For their part, the Targum editors urge: “Truly any campus group that believes in free speech as a blood right must recruit support to fight this issue, and all Rutgers students — those who stand on either or neither side of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute — must be willing to join in this fight. We all attend a public school and thus would be heavily impacted by this excuse of a bill. We must send the message to our legislators that although we are public, we do not exist to be hammered under the thumb of our lawmakers.”

As part of #NJAntWarAgenda - if you are interested in stipended anti imperialist and pro student rights (especially regarding this kind of bill) for campus organizign - text 908-881-5275.

Resources:

Open letter to faculty unions includes links to Palestine Legal and CAIR opposition to this bill.

· Assembly women Annette Quijano no longer appears as co-sponsor of A5755

@SenSweeney @daily_targum Blasts NJS4001 - Sweeney's attack on free speech rights! GO TARGUM!

Sweeney: WITHDRAW NJ S4001 NOW!#StopNJS4001 #StopNJA5755 https://t.co/kb2jgpr5ff
— Bob Witanek (@bwitanek) November 26, 2019