John,

This past week, the University of Michigan sent in police to violently arrest anti-genocide protesters, in a shameful sign of the repressive tactics to come at schools across the country this semester.

College and university administrators, and the boards that oversee them, are still trying to silence students for exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly. These students should be listened to and praised for standing up for peace—not vilified, silenced, or made homeless after being banned from campus.

During the wave of Gaza solidarity encampments earlier this year, I had the chance to spend time with students in my state of Michigan demanding divestment from weapons manufacturers, including at my alma mater Wayne State University.

While I was on Wayne State’s campus, officers in a police SUV tried to drive through a crowd of students.

For calling to save lives, college students and staff have been brutally beaten, tased, and sprayed with toxic chemicals.

Instead of suppressing protests, we must abide by U.S. and international law and heed the public’s call to end U.S. weapons shipments to Israel as it commits genocide against Palestinians.

Sign to demand school administrators and boards listen to students demanding divestment from genocide, rather than criminalizing them. Academic institutions are places for learning and discussion, not violent crackdowns on our First Amendment right to free speech.

It’s disgraceful that university administrators and government officials in our country have been sending in militarized police forces and even snipers to stop students from exercising their First Amendment rights. Earlier this year, more than 3,000 students, faculty, and staff were brutally arrested and many were hospitalized from violent arrests.

The movement is still going strong, and has already won some victories with a number of universities taking steps to divest from weapons manufacturers.

Instead of harming their students and staff who are speaking up for peace, universities must instead listen to and protect the people on their campuses who are demanding a better world. U.S. lawmakers must also listen to their constituents, the vast majority of whom are demanding an end to arming Israel’s military as it violates Palestinians’ human rights.

I promise to continue defending our rights and saving lives at home and abroad.

In solidarity,

Rashida

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rashida Tlaib
Date: Fri, Aug 30, 2024
Subject: University repression of pro-Palestine protests is starting again:
To: [email protected]

John,

This week, University of Michigan students held a peaceful “die-in” protest while holding photographs of dead Palestinian children, chanting “Israel bombs, U of M pays, how many kids have you killed today?”

The university sent in police to violently arrest protesters, in a shameful sign of the repressive tactics to come at schools across the country this semester.

Attacks on students’ First Amendment rights are clear attempts to silence dissent and stop people from speaking up against our country’s role in this genocide.

With 70% of the Israeli military’s weapons coming from the United States, our government has the power to end the flow of weapons and stop this genocide immediately. Because the U.S. continues to arm and fund Israel’s assault on Gaza, the Israeli military is now launching its biggest attack on the West Bank in 20 years.

Our country must stop arming war crimes and violations of international law. We must act now to stop innocent children from being shot in the head by Israeli snipers, dismembered by U.S. bombs while sheltering in “safe zones” and UN schools, and deliberately starved to death. We must listen to—not silence or brutalize—the U.S. students and school employees who are demanding an end to this ethnic cleansing.

Sign on now to tell U.S. college and university administrators, and the boards that oversee them: Listen to students and staff demanding divestment from genocide, rather than criminalizing them. Protect your students and their First Amendment rights.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit the University of Michigan’s Gaza solidarity encampment on the Diag, an area of campus historically used for student protests.

That’s where students held their protest at a back-to-campus event this week.

I also visited with students at their encampment at my alma mater, Wayne State University. While I was on Wayne State’s campus, officers in a police SUV tried to drive through a crowd of students.

For calling to save lives, U.S. students and some staff have been brutally beaten, tased, and sprayed with toxic chemicals. Across the country, universities are also firing pro-Palestine faculty and staff.

I stand with students and employees who are demanding that their universities divest from weapons manufacturers that are sending bombs to murder innocent Palestinian children. Many of these protests have already led to universities divesting.

The right to protest is essential to social change and to democracy. It’s also a fundamental constitutional right as part of our free speech protections in the First Amendment. In addition, schools have a responsibility to keep students protected from violence, including police violence.

Please add your name to join the call to U.S. colleges and universities: End the repressive tactics and violent crackdowns on pro-Palestine protests. Your students’ constitutional rights don’t end when they enter campus grounds, and you’re supposed to protect them—not endanger them with police brutality.

Thank you for demanding a society that respects our shared humanity, upholds our human rights, and values all life.

In solidarity,

Rashida