President Biden: Address Repression, Rights Violations on College Campuses

Dear President Biden and Members of Congress, I write to you today with urgent concerns regarding the alarming climate of repression and human rights violations on university campuses nationwide. The ongoing atrocities in Gaza and the broader Palestinian territories demand our immediate attention and action. It is deeply troubling to witness the complicity of institutions in perpetuating violence through their funding mechanisms. As leaders, it is our duty to ensure that our educational institutions are not only spaces for learning but also bastions of free thought and diverse perspectives. However, recent events have shown a disturbing trend of silencing and punishing students and faculty who advocate for Palestinian rights, under the guise of combating anti-Semitism. I implore you to heed the following demands and take swift action: 1. Enact policies to end the repression and discrimination against student groups advocating for Palestinian rights on campuses nationwide. 2. Mandate transparent disclosure of all university investments in companies complicit in human rights violations in Gaza and the broader Palestinian territories. 3. Introduce legislation to sever ties between academic institutions and companies or initiatives, such as Ghost Robotics, involved in developing technologies that contribute to human rights abuses. By implementing these measures, we can demonstrate our commitment to upholding human rights, academic freedom, and social justice. Additionally, I urge you to support legislation that protects the rights of students to engage in peaceful protests and activism without fear of retaliation or censorship. It is essential that our campuses remain spaces where all voices are heard and respected. Thank you for your attention to these urgent matters. I trust that you will take the necessary steps to address these issues and ensure a more just and inclusive future for all. With sincerity, For further reading: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/22/columbia-university-student-protests-israel-gaza https://apnews.com/article/college-protests-israel-divestment-palestinians-3f37f96f7be8e1124f266842d9caa627 https://fightbacknews.org/articles/students-for-a-democratic-society-calls-for-nationwide-encampments-for-gaza https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2024/04/24/freedom-of-speech-under-assault-at-palestine-protests-in-us-universities/%3foutputType=amp https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2024/04/24/students-set-encampments-coast-coast