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 Senato
rs 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

Sunday, November 17, 2019

NJ Says "NO MORE COUPS!" - Comite Bolivia NJ Formed



NJ is saying “NO MORE COUPS” and staking out clear opposition to the US backed fascist military coup d'etat against the nation and people of Bolivia.    Back to back protests in 2 NJ cities took place this past week, on Thursday November 14 on the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers and on Friday November 15 outside the offices of Senator Menendez, who played a direct role in orchestrating the coup, and Senator Booker, at One Gateway in Newark, NJ.  At the Newark event, the formation of Comite Bolivia NJ (interim name) was announced and a leaflet with information about the new committee was handed out to participants.


The Rutgers protest was attended, all told by about 50 protesters, some staying briefly and others for the full hour long event.  Four large banners from #NJAntiWarAgenda were hung between trees including a 6-foot banner depicting Evo Morale, and in Spanish, calling for his restoration and the reversal of the US backed right wing violent, and according to the protesters, “fascist” and “CIA-Backed” coup.  A popular chant
of the Rutgers protesters was “NO MORE COUPS! RESTORE EVO MORALES!” The event drew attention with many passers-by and some who disagreed gathering to watch the event - some shouting out their opposition. The Rutgers event also addressed other issues of concern including the US backed Israeli bombing of Gaza that has killed several dozen in recent days.  At the end of the rally, about a dozen students marched in the street up College Avenue behind the Evo Morales banner and chanting support for the Bolivian people.

The Newark protest was live streamed by revolutionary street video journalist Lisa Davis.

The following is a summary of the presentations of the event and the time - into the video - for each
presentation. Video of November 15 Newark Bolivia protest against the coup:

Green Party candidate for US Senate Madelyn Hoffman who challenged Golpista (coup maker) Menendez in 2018 spoke out about the need to challenge imperialist supporting candidates for election and the horrendous history of imperialism in Latin America.  Her presentation is in this video.

0:00 Natalia, representing Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) speaking on recent developments of Latin American struggle.
2:42 Dr. Rey Tapia, Bolivian Scholar with a Bolivian perspective on the struggle
5:53 Bob Witanek explains Comite Bolivia and describes November 2 event that occurred in Princeton linking 7 national struggles in Latin American and the Caribbean.  (A video from this event is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDmnFUUNg3I& )
8:19 Jay Arena of Resist the Deportation Machine connects anti-war, anti-imperialist struggle to the struggle to close ICE concentration camps including the Essex County facility on Doremus Avenue

12:49 - Bob Witanek music break sings “Farabundo Marti” about the struggle of the people of El Salvador
17:19 - Jaime Herrera of Comite Roque Dalton FMLN (El Salvador) condemns Menendez involvement in the coup and as an opponent of all fo Latin America struggles and talks about the links between the liberation struggles in Latin America
22:54 Ben Morris a leader of high school student resistance to war and imperialism talked about the struggles to remove recruiters and police from the high schools
24:00 Lisa Davis representing Peoples Organization for Progress and Black is Black nailed US imperialism and called for a “no compromise” position opposing candidates of both parties that support war and imperialism
29:10 John Lisowski representing American Party of Labor gave some of the current background on the Bolivia situation
31:00 Esteban Guevera of PSL offering closing remarks

The back to back rallies indicate a strong NJ organizing effort that is responding in real time to events as they unfold - we need to consolidate this effort and build a support committee for Bolivia because this struggle will be protracted. 

The call for formation of Comite Bolivia NJ reads as follows (Spanish followed by English):

Únase a Comite Bolivia NJ  (Print Flier from Drive) Join On Facebook

Te invitamos a unirte a nosotros en la formación de Comite Bolivia NJ (nombre provisional).


Estados Unidos está respaldando un golpe militar de derecha contra la constitución de Bolivia y sus legítimamente elegidos, y reelegido presidente Evo Morales. El golpe ha sido impuesto con violencia masiva por los extremistas de derecha y la policía. También existe la amenaza de violencia militar contra el pueblo boliviano que se opone al golpe mediante protestas masivas.

Dada la situación, en NJ estamos creando un enfoque organizativo en Bolivia para construir solidaridad y apoyo para el pueblo boliviano para restaurar la democracia y su orden constitucional a través de la educación y la acción solidaria.

Este comité es nuevo y todo, incluido el nombre, se puede definir y redefinir a partir de los aportes de todos los miembros fundadores y miembros. Si está interesado en formar parte de este comité, comuníquese al 908-881-5275.

Please Join Comite Bolivia NJ

We hereby invite you to join us in formation of Comite Bolivia NJ (interim name).

The US is backing a right wing military coup against the constitution of Bolivia and its rightfully elected - and re-elected president Evo Morales.  The coup has been imposed with massive violence by right wing extremists and the police. There is also the threat of military violence against the Bolivian people who are opposing the coup through massive protests.

Given the situation, in NJ we are creatong a Bolivia organizing focus to build solidarity and support for the Bolivian people to restore democracy and its constitutional order through education and solidarity action.


This committee is new and everything including the name, can be defined and redefined given input from all founding and joining members.  If you are interested in being part of this committee, please contact 908-881-5275.

The following is a statement from the Rutgers students that mobilized against the coup:

We are fighting for indigenous rights, the conflict in Bolivia stems from the long history of colonialism in Latin America. We find it abhorrent that the first Indigenous president was ousted and replaced by a Christian fascist who views the traditions of the indigenous people in Bolivia to be “satanic”. People’s lives are in danger, and in the imperial core, Americans must denounce against the crimes this government implements in their name. We stand and we shout in solidarity with all those across Earth that are being held hostage by the American Empire. We won’t stop fighting, we won’t be silenced. Everytime the US decides to drone strike a poor country, we will be there to denounce it. We will be back.”

NEXT EVENT: U.S. Imperialism and Its Impact on Peace, Justice and the Environment of Latin America - What is Happening Today and What We Can Do to Change It

Saturday, November 23rd, 1 - 4pm
Emanuel Lutheran Church, 3 Kirkpatrick Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey
Admission Free /  In English and in Spanish
Live streaming on: https://www.facebook.com/NJRevRad/

Print fliers from this link

Thank you to Madelyn Hoffman and Colombia Grass Roots for taking the lean on organizing this upcoming event.




Tell Senators Menendez and Booker that you support Comite Bolivia NJ by retweeting: