SJP at ASU stands with Black Lives Matter

black lives matter

Say their names:

Philando Castile.

Alton Sterling.

Essence Bowman.

Dylan Noble.

Delrawn Small.

Stephanie Hicks.

These are some of the most recent victims of police violence in the United States, whose lives were brutally and tragically cut short. They were parents, friends, spouses, siblings, sons and daughters. They had homes, jobs, hobbies, plans and dreams. They were human and their lives mattered. Say their names.

Across the country, Black people are 3 times more likely to be killed by police than White people. In 2015, 346 Black people were killed by the police. Since the beginning of this year, 187 Black people have been killed by the police.

That is roughly one person every single day.

As students who believe in justice- from our own neighborhoods to Palestine- we cannot let this continue.

Over the years, our Black brothers and sisters have faced horrific oppression, discrimination and structural violence. They have repeatedly been told that their lives did not matter. In spite of this, they have survived and resisted with amazing courage, steadfastness, resilience and grace.

As members of SJP at ASU, we recognize their struggle for justice and affirm that Black lives, all Black lives, matter.

We extend our full, unwavering love and support to our Black brothers and sisters and stand in solidarity with them.

We support them not just because they have always supported us, not just because the freedoms of all oppressed people are inextricably connected, and not just because we care about social justice.

We support them because they matter.

Say their names.

 

(Statistics mentioned are from http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/ and are current as of July 12th, 2016)

 

Learn more about recent events, Black Lives Matter, and how you can help:

http://www.alternet.org/we-want-safety-dignity-and-justice-black-lives-matter-protests-build-nationwide

http://www.colorlines.com/articles/diamond-reynolds-i-dont-want-keep-reliving-moment

http://www.browntourage.com/magazine/oakland-stands-with-ferguson-some-resources/

https://www.raceforward.org/videos/systemic-racism

http://www.epi.org/publication/making-ferguson/

http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/

 

Learn about Black and Palestinian solidarity:

http://www.blackforpalestine.com/read-the-statement.html

http://972mag.com/watch-lauryn-hill-angela-davis-call-for-black-palestinian-solidarity/112800/

https://electronicintifada.net/content/how-sun-palestine-reached-black-panther-jail/15069

http://www.democracynow.org/2016/3/28/freedom_is_a_constant_struggle_angela

https://mic.com/articles/105116/palestinian-activists-are-sharing-messages-from-palestine-2ferguson#.0bipxKCMu

http://www.ebony.com/news-views/angela-davis-rasmea-odeh-connecting-palestine-prisons-police-495

https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/palestinians-salute-black-solidarity-call-joint-struggle

https://electronicintifada.net/content/palestinian-liberation-key-matter-our-time-say-black-leaders/14783

 

We’re back!!!

It’s been a long time, but we’re getting back to updating our social media! Looking forward to a great new semester with lots of amazing discussions, activities and events!

If you’re a new student interested in joining, please be sure to sign up via our SunDevilSync page for announcements and ASU events.

If you are an old member, also make sure you join the page as we are currently working on redoing the email listserv and in the meantime, we will be using ASU’s system for general announcements.

We look forward to working together for peace and justice in Palestine!

 

On anti-Semitism in UCLA Council

On February 10th of 2015, members of Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) at UCLA interviewed Rachel Beyda, a student candidate who was running for a position on the Judicial Board. One of the council members asked Beyda if her Jewish background would influence her performance as a student leader. The recording of the session meeting is available online.

Jewish people have continually endured detestable and unacceptable discrimination. This incident is yet another manifestation of such outrageous and distressing prejudice. We, as members of Students for Justice in Palestine at ASU, denounce the unjustified interrogation of this student and the subsequent offensive discussion of her identity as deplorable and anti-Semitic.

If such anti-Semitism was used with the intention of defending a social justice movement, then the perpetrators have no place in the movement.

Sincerely,

SJP at ASU

 

We submitted this letter to the State Press on March 31, 2015. 

Journalist Rania Khalek

2015 SJP rania

Join us in hearing independent journalist Rania Khalek speak about how Israel uses Palestine as a laboratory to test and refine weapons and methods of domination and control, which are then exported to regimes around the world for use on other marginalized populations.

Rania Khalek is an independent journalist who has written for Salon, AlterNet, Al Jazeera America, In These Times, The Nation, Vice and many other widely read independent publications. She’s a regular contributor to Truthout, the gender columnist at Extra! (published by Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) and is a blogger for The Electronic Intifada, where she is on the editorial board. She also co-hosts a weekly podcast called Unauthorized Disclosure with journalist Kevin Gosztola, covering a range of underreported topics relating to national security and US foreign policy from perspectives that are often missing from the mainstream press.

The event will be held at ASU Tempe in CDN 68 at 6:00pm. We recommend parking in Lot 20 or 14. Everyone is welcome! 

Response to Hate Posters

On the morning of Monday, February 23, offensive and graphic flyers were posted around ASU Tempe campus. The flyers pictured a bloodied and beaten man being dragged by his feet behind a motorcycle. The words “Students for Justice in Palestine” and “#JewHaters” were emblazoned on the image.

Soon after the flyers were posted, a non-ASU political organization called the David Horowitz Freedom Center published a statement confirming that they were responsible. Until now, no investigation has taken place to determine whether or not ASU students were involved in the posting of these flyers.

We at Students for Justice in Palestine are appalled by these posters. Not only do these posters inaccurately label SJP as violent and anti-Semitic, they also foster an attitude of fear, hatred, and mistrust towards us because the ASU community will now associate these posters with SJP.

To reify our longstanding values, we as an organization strongly condemn all forms of violence and hate speech.  We are a nonviolent, non-political, non-religious organization promoting awareness about Palestine and stand in solidarity with all human rights movements.

We are grateful for the support of various organizations, from Bruins for Israel, J Street U at UCLA, to Jewish Voice for Peace, for writing statements condemning these flyers unequivocally.

#IsraeliApartheidWeek Spring 2015

2015 SJP IAW collageStarting February 16th, we will be hosting Israeli Apartheid Week. During this time, we will be hosting two speakers, showing a documentary, and of course having our Mock Apartheid Wall event. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

List of events: 

2015 SJP IAW jeff halperMONDAY: Jeff Halper– Author and founder of Israeli Coalition Against Home Demolitions  Feb 16th | 6pm | COOR 184

WEDNESDAY: Mock Apartheid Wall | Hayden Lawn | Feb 18th

2015 SJP roadmap to apartheidFRIDAY: “Road map to Apartheid” Documentary Screening
Feb 20th | 3:30pm | COOR 120

2015 SJP IAW allison weirMONDAY: Alison Weir– Author, journalist and founder of “If Americans Knew”              Feb 23rd | 6pm | CDN 68

Students should seek understanding rather than smearing

Full: Letter: Students should seek understanding rather than smearing

“Our wall was set up on Hayden Lawn as a talking-point to inform the ASU community about the Wall and the Israeli occupation, as it is known by the International Court of Justice and the United Nations. The wall featured facts, statistics and artwork illustrating daily life under the occupation and celebrating the resiliency of the Palestinian people. It was intended to be an invitation for dialogue, and frankly, we are confused as to why Brunner did not choose to talk to any SJP members who stood by the Wall for over 16 hours. SJP welcomes all opinions, even dissenting ones, as we believe in democratic ideals and freedom of expression. So, we invite anyone to join us at our meetings and learn how we campaign for greater human rights awareness.”

This letter is our response to the libelous State Press opinion article, “Students for Justice in Palestine should erect a bridge rather than a wall”

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SJP ASU: Our Statement on Syria

Recently, we’ve been getting quite a few questions about SJP ASU’s stance on the conflict in Syria. Many people have wondered whose “side” we are on, what our beliefs are, etc.

Earlier this year (24 Jan. 2014 to be exact) we signed on to a statement that detailed our position on this very relevant topic. We signed this so that our stance is clearly defined, so as to no longer cause confusion.

If you wish to read our statement, please click HERE. Thank you!

Voices for Syria Benefit Dinner

SJP and SOS Freedom are partnering together to raise money for humanitarian aid for Syrians suffering from #AssadWarCrimes. Join us for a benefit dinner on April 24th at 7 PM in the Memorial Union – Alumni Lounge. You can find the event page here

As part of the Coalition for a Democratic Syria’s North America Tour, #QusaiZakarya will present a survivor’s account of the chemical weapons attack and of life under siege in Syria. Local ASU performers will also perform to gather proceeds to help people inside Syria still living under siege and under Assad. #EnoughWithAssad

Tickets are 15$ and can be purchased here