Class Struggle #3, February 2025, published

The third issue of Class Struggle was published February 2nd and it will be posted at:  redstarpublishers.org/ClassStruggle/index.html  Offers of articles are welcome, they say.      

Contents:

An Inaugural Speech of Demagogy............................................................................................................1

Gaza............................................................................................................................................................3

Why Trump Can't "Make America Great Again".......................................................................................4

MLK Day 2025:  Organize, Resist, Defend...............................................................................................7

'It's going to be rough': what Trump's response to LA fires portends for future climate disasters......................................................................................................................................................9

It is not only Trump, it is the financial oligarchy that is attacking humanity...................................................................................................................................................10

Another Year That Does Not Bode Well for the Workers.........................................................................13

Is there a new Hitler in the White House?................................................................................................15

No solo es Trump, es la oligarquia financeria la que arremete contra la humanidad...............................17

Otro ano aque no avizora nada bueno para los trabajadores....................................................................20

Esta el nuevo Hitler en la Casa Blanca?...................................................................................................22

I thought that this post had gone out already, at about 8:45 or 8:55pm.  I added a few more events and anniversaries at:  durhamspark.blogspot.com/2025/01/a-2025-new-years-message-from-usmlo-few.html and I hope to post further this week.  

ADC: Statement on Prime Minister Netanyahu's Visit to Washington DC

 This statement was sent out by email at mid-day February 4th.

ADC's Statement on Prime Minister Netanyahu's Visit to Washington D.C.

This morning, President Trump welcomed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House for his first in-person meeting with a foreign leader since the start of his second administration. Discussions surrounding the "ceasefire", Iran's nuclear power, and normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia are expected. We are deeply concerned by his arrival in Washington as Israel continues to violate the ceasefire agreement in both Palestine and Lebanon.  “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington—while he remains under an active International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes, including the systematic use of starvation—constitutes a grave insult to international justice. The United States, though not a signatory to the Rome Statute, only further isolates itself alongside Israel by extending this invitation to an indicted war criminal," said ADC National Executive Director, Abed Ayoub.  Netanyahu's visit also comes at a time when the ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon are on extremely fragile ground. Israel’s ongoing attacks in the occupied West Bank—where at least 70 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers this year alone—demonstrates a blatant disregard for any semblance of peace. Since the initial November ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, Israel has killed 83 people, injured over 200 civilians, and has displaced thousands attempting to return to the South.

Last week’s failed Senate vote to impose sanctions on the ICC offers a sliver of hope that the court may yet hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable. The possibility of sanctioning the ICC remains real, which would shield Netanyahu and others complicit in the 15-month slaughter that claimed over 61,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza.  Hosting Netanyahu does not align with American interests. He has a long history of ridiculing and betraying U.S. presidents—President Biden being the latest example—and of dragging the United States into unnecessary wars. Netanyahu’s wars do not make the Jewish people, Israelis, Americans or the wider world any safer. We urge our elected officials and the international community to reject any efforts to undermine the rule of law, and to stand on the side of justice for the countless victims of Netanyahu’s genocide in Gaza and endless wars against the Palestinian people.”   Our work is not possible without your support. Consider making a contribution to ADC today.

BAP on the release of Leonard Peltier + the fighting in eastern DR Congo + a teach-in on "regime change" February 6th

From UNAC:

"What is regime change, and how has the US used it to target nations like Libya, Iraq, and Syria that resist Western dominance? This event will explore how sanctions, propaganda, and military intervention are wielded as tools of imperialism, plunging nations into chaos under the guise of "human rights" rhetoric.

Join us to analyze the devastating consequences of US-led interventions and corporate media propaganda.

Questions? Email us at thenewschoolsjp[at gmail]"

                                                      "The US’ Role in Regime Change

UNAC is a co-sponsor of this online and in-person event

Thursday, February 6, 7 PM

At the New School in New York City and online

Click here to register for the online event

                Click here to register for the in-person event "

Originally posted January 31st at:  blackallianceforpeace.com/bapstatements/imperialism-responsible-for-congo-turmoil  Slightly edited.

See also:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_23_Movement  Last week the BBC interviewed both Rwandan and Congolese officials about the fighting, while I only heard an interview with the Congolese foreign minister (?) on NPR (on Morning Edition February 1st). The BBC clearly has preferences, but they still allowed both governments to air their views on the conflict.  But the BBC hardly ever admits that there are two sides in the wars in the Middle East or Ukraine.  Palestinian and other civilians are often interviewed, but the BBC hardly ever interviews an acknowledged member of a Resistance group, junior or senior, or an Iranian or Ba'athist Syrian government official.  Occasionally they interview an academic in Tehran who gives a strong showing against "Western" imperialism (thus they rarely have him on?).  I think he is sometimes interviewed on The Electronic Intifada's livestream.  The BBC frequently interviews "right" to "far right" Israeli politicians, who frequently make little effort to hide their desire to mistreat, starve, torture, and kill the Palestinian civilian population, until Israel can annex every bit of territory "from the River to the Sea" for "settlements."  The BBC hardly ever interviews Russian officials on the war in Eastern Europe.  I don't recall the BBC ever interviewing a Russian separatist militant or official in Ukraine or a civilian victim of western Ukraine, other than maybe Russian civilians from near Kursk, on pre-war Russian territory.  The BBC lets Israelis officials and politicians openly talk, for several minutes, like we're in the 1940's and they face no risk of being arrested for war crimes, while rarely or never interviewing officials from Hamas, Ansar Allah, Hezbollah, the Russian government, Belarusian government, the Venezuelan government, etc.  Surely they could find someone official to interview?  The BBC does sometimes play clips of Putin or have Steve Rosenberg shout questions at him at events, etc., but they hardly ever interview an official from an "adversary" government, though they must often talk to such officials, 'off camera.'  I think they did let a young Chinese influencer effusively praise China's "AI" (?) or social media recently.  

\

Even US officials usually try to avoid talking like a Likud official on an open mic.   

Despite the BAP's view below, I've wondered in general if events in the DRC or elsewhere could be related to a loss of US international power or focused attention, in the same way that conflict followed the destruction of the USSR and Yugoslavia, or an increase in the independence of smaller regional powers in a "multi-polar" world.  I'm not saying that Trump is an "isolationist."  Biden was what the mainstream media calls an "internationalist," yet events seemed to be out of US control during the Biden-Harris administration, assuming that the government wasn't just lying about its intentions.  Maybe Biden was too elderly to govern effectively.  Netanyahu made the Biden-Harris administration look weak if not humiliated, and he might be preparing the same treatment for Trump-Vance this year.  The US couldn't stop the civil war in Sudan, which also involves the UAE and other powers.  The US failed to overthrow the governments of Venezuela, Iran, or Cuba, and it failed to weaken Russia and drive it out of Ukraine.  Supposedly Turkey not the US was behind the "rebel" coup that achieved the elites' long-standing dream of toppling Syria.  They appeared unable to control mass migration caused in part by their "kinetic" and economic warfare waged around the world and a changed climate.  Maybe inflation in the USA also related to the government's wars; the EU's economy suffered because they were cut off from Russian resources.  The US also wants the EU and others to be 'on side' against China, perhaps again costing the EU economically.  Trump talks violently, but what if it achieves little, or other countries stand up to his threats?  People aren't willing to go to war for capitalist economic reasons again so soon after the "War on Terror," or there isn't enough money for a new war?  There is a limit to what the government can achieve through Bill Clinton-style aerial wars. 

U.S.-led Imperialism Is Directly Responsible for Turmoil in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Black Alliance for Peace Africa Team (BAP) and U.S. Out of Africa Network (USOAN) stands in unwavering solidarity with the Congolese People as they endure yet another chapter of violence, exploitation, and masked imperialist aggression in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The ongoing conflict, fueled by Rwanda’s role as an imperialist foot soldier, is not merely a regional dispute but a manifestation of global capitalism’s insatiable desire for Africa’s resources. As the transnational capitalist class fight for dominance in the global clean energy, artificial intelligence, and technology markets, the Congo has been and stands to remain the battleground as a cornerstone of systemic plunder for over a century.

Rwanda, backed by Western powers such as the United States, the European Union (EU), Canada, Israel, etc, has consistently acted as a destabilizing force in the region, providing material support to proxy militias like the M23 to undermine Congolese sovereignty and facilitate the extraction of resources. Much like the sub-imperialist relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Sudan, Rwanda has no significant mineral reserves of its own yet has become one of the world’s leading exporters of critical minerals like coltan. The recent escalation in Goma, where Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) and M23 have seized strategic areas, is a direct result of this imperialist agenda.

The Congolese People, however, continue to resist valiantly, with the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and Wazalendo self-defense groups reclaiming critical infrastructure like the Congolese National Radio and Television station (RTNC). The responsibility of those outside of the DRC is to heed the acts of the People reflecting the unheard, to unconditionally support their path toward self-determination and right to defend their land and sovereignty. This is the only way to sustainable peace in the Congo.

The conflict in the DRC is not an isolated event but a direct consequence of the global capitalist system in crisis. The so-called “Green Corridor” initiative, promoted by President Felix Tshisekedi at the World Economic Forum in Davos, is a stark example of how imperialist powers and their local compradors, seek to legitimize their pillaging under the guise of development. This initiative, funded primarily by the United States and EU, aims to secure access to the Congo’s cobalt, copper, and lithium — resources essential for the global transition to renewable energy and digital technologies. Yet, this so-called “development” comes at the direct expense of the Congolese People, who continue to suffer from violence, displacement, and poverty. 

The recent attacks on the embassies of Belgium, France, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United States, chanting “down with imperialism” and widespread protests across the DRC, from Goma to Kinshasa, make clear the frustration of the Congolese with a government that has failed to protect them, and a global system that exploits them. The uprising reflects a growing consciousness among the Congolese masses, who are demanding accountability, liberation, and an end to decades of suffering. The Black Alliance for Peace recognizes these protests as part of a broader struggle across the African continent. As Che Guevara said, “all free people of the world be prepared to avenge the crime of the Congo.” 

We understand that the liberation of the Congo is inseparable from the liberation of Africa as a whole. The Congo’s land, energy, and resources have fueled the wealth of imperialist powers for generations, while its people have been subjected to unimaginable violence and exploitation. The current crisis is a stark reminder that the struggle for African sovereignty is a struggle against the global capitalist system. We must reject the false narratives that frame this conflict as a regional or ethnic issue and instead recognize it as a fight against imperialism and for self-determination. 

The Black Alliance for Peace calls on all progressive forces, both within the African continent and around the world, to stand in solidarity with the Congolese People. Demand an immediate end to Rwanda’s aggression and the withdrawal of all foreign forces from the DRC. We call for Congo’s resources to be under the democratic control of its People. We call on all anti-imperialist forces across the world to expose the puppeteer role of the U.S.-EU-NATO Axis of Domination in fueling this crisis and to support the Congolese People’s right to life.

The struggle of the Congolese People is our struggle. Their victory is our victory . Let us unite in solidarity to end the centuries-long suffering in the Congo and to build a world free from imperialism, capitalism, and exploitation. The Congo is not for sale—it belongs to its People.

Free the Congo! 

Patrice Lumumba Lives!

Unite Africa under Socialism!

No Compromise!

No Retreat!

Originally posted January 28th at:  blackallianceforpeace.com/bapstatements/welcome-home-leonard-peltier  See also:  durhamspark.blogspot.com/2025/01/samidoun-free-ahmad-saadat-and-all.html

The Black Alliance for Peace Welcomes the Release of Leonard Peltier and Demands Unrestricted Release of all U.S. Political Prisoners

The immoral life sentence of American Indian Movement freedom fighter, political prisoner and prisoner of war, Leonard Peltier was commuted by the U.S. President Joe Biden, only moments before Biden’s term in office ended. Now 80 years old, Peltier languished for over 50 years in prison after being unjustly convicted of killing two FBI agents in 1975 during a terror raid of the Pine Ridge Reservation by agents of the U.S. government.

Biden’s clemency order for Peltier was a vulgar, narcissistic attempt to fabricate a benevolent legacy for himself. Falling far short of an exoneration, the Biden administration insinuated the act was one of compassion for a decidedly “guilty” FBI agent killer. The ailing elder Peltier won’t be released until February 18th, and will still have to remain confined to house arrest for the rest of his life under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons that can rescind his release if they decide he has violated his parole. At least he will be surrounded and cared for by loved ones.

While the Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) welcomes the long overdue release of Leonard Peltier, we hold that he should never have been imprisoned and that his imprisonment reflects the ongoing institutional expression of settler-colonialism that defines the U.S. Even though all evidence in the case of Peltier points to his innocence, BAP’s commitment to an authentic process of decolonization in every sense of that term supports the right of American Indian, First Nation people to defend themselves and resist their colonialist domination by any means necessary.

Neither Biden nor the U.S. government deserves credit or gratitude for commuting Peltier's sentence. All credit belongs to the activists, international human rights leaders, and legal advocates led by the Indigenous people who fought for decades for Leonard Peltier’s release. Peltier’s case is but one in a long and decadent history of U.S. political imprisonment and repression, with a present record that includes the contemporary cases of the Uhuru 3, the nearly five dozen “Stop Cop City” activists indicted on RICO charges, and activists targeted in the Free Palestine movement.

BAP holds the U.S. setter state in contempt for continuing to hold political prisoners and we remain “committed to working against all forms of state and domestic repression, including the issues of political prisoners and prisoners of war in the United States.”

No Compromise!

No Retreat!

The Free Leonard Peltier Ad Hoc Committee is raising funds for expenses related to retaining independent medical experts, accommodations, travel, materials, and other expenditures related to Leonard's medical care. Please contribute what you can. You can also donate via Cash App to: $PeltierOfficialComm

VFP celebrates the Gaza ceasefire and pledges to defend it + the duty to disobey illegal orders

Originally posted January 24th at:  www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2025/01/24/veterans-peace-celebrates-gaza-ceasefire-and-pledges-defend 

Veterans For Peace Celebrates the Gaza Ceasefire and Pledges to Defend It

Veterans For Peace joins the people of Gaza in rejoicing at the Ceasefire that has brought a halt to Israel’s bombardment of Palestinian children, women and men, and their churches, their mosques, their schools and hospitals. At least 50,000 have been killed in a cold-blooded massacre and over 100,000 injured, many losing their limbs. But the huge smiles on the faces of the children of Gaza and their shouts of joy since the ceasefire went into effect were a deeply profound thing to witness.

But just how real is the Gaza ceasefire?  How enduring will it be?  Many close observers of Israel are skeptical.  In his recent article, The Ceasefire Charade, Chris Hedges, renowned war correspondent and VFP Advisory Board member writes:

“Israel, going back decades, has played a duplicitous game. It signs a deal with the Palestinians that is to be implemented in phases. The first phase gives Israel what it wants — in this case the release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza — but Israel habitually fails to implement subsequent phases that would lead to a just and equitable peace. It eventually provokes the Palestinians with indiscriminate armed assaults to retaliate, defines a Palestinian response as a provocation and abrogates the ceasefire deal to reignite the slaughter. If this latest three-phase ceasefire deal is ratified it will, I expect, be little more than a presidential inauguration bombing pause. Israel has no intention of halting its merry-go-round of death.”

While we rejoice at the pause in the US/Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people, we recognize that the following underpinnings of the genocide remain unchanged:

1. U.S. provision of weapons and services for those weapons to Israel in violation of a variety of U.S. laws, including the Leahy Law;

2. U.S. deployment of military personnel in support of the genocide through servicing weapons provided to Israel, flying air attacks against Yemeni and Syrian people; flying MQ-9 Reaper drone surveillance missions to aid Israeli air attacks against Palestinians, Yemenis and, likely, Lebanese;

3. Repression by US colleges and universities against students and faculty who have acted so courageously and effectively to educate the US public about the US/Israeli genocide and have led in calling for divestment from Israel and from US weapons makers who have been making billions in supporting the genocide;

4. The silence of US hospital systems about the genocide and repression of their staff members who are speaking out in solidarity with their sister and brother Palestinian medical workers who have been killed, jailed, humiliated and whose hospitals have been destroyed and deprived of fuel, medicine, food and safety. Evidence of this silence is the formation and growing popularity of Doctors Against Genocide; and

5. The cooperation of major US press organizations with genocide in failing to report fully on the suffering of the Palestinian people and accepting without significant critique the narrative of the Israeli government.

6. The constitutionally-protected ability of weapons makers and other corporations to exercise dangerous influence in every segment of society and public opinion by lobbying legislators at every level of government, writing legislation, advertising, plying educational institutions with desperately needed funding, contributing to community events, keeping information hidden from the public and investing in electoral campaigns.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is not rejoicing at the ceasefire agreement.  He immediately declared that Biden and Trump both told him he will have their support whenever he decides to resume the Gaza onslaught.

Fueling concerns about the durability of the Gaza ceasefire are Israel’s escalating attacks on the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, its daily violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, and its continuing efforts to draw the US into a war against Iran.

Ominously, on his first day in office, President Trump removed the sanctions on West Bank settlers who have attacked Palestinian civilians, and reversed Biden’s “pause” of sending 2,000 lb. bombs to Israel. And then there are these recent statements from Trump’s inner circle:

During his confirmation hearing for U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio strongly defended Israel’s conduct in Gaza while sharply condemning the International Criminal Court (ICC). As a Senator, Rubio was a strong supporter of the criminal actions of Israel against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

During her confirmation hearing on January 22, 2025, Trump’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Elise Stefanik that while Palestinian people deserve human rights, Israel has a biblical right to the West Bank. She would not answer whether the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination.

“I support Israel destroying and killing every last member of Hamas,” testified Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, at his Senate confirmation hearing.  And Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz declared that he is committed to the complete defeat of Hamas. That sounds very much like the failed logic of the Biden Administration and Israel’s war on Gaza. When will they ever learn? 

Despite its uncertain fate, the Gaza ceasefire is nonetheless a precious victory for the Palestinian people, and must be defended. Just look again at the joyous faces of the Palestinian children. This is another stage in the Palestinian struggle for liberation from colonial oppression and genocide. Peace-loving people everywhere must therefore remain vigilant. We must push for successful completion of all three phases of the ceasefire agreement. We must remove conditions within the U.S. that have enabled the genocide.

Veterans For Peace has consistently called on the US government to stop sending US bombs and war materials to Israel. We have encouraged legal action against the Biden administration for violating US and international laws when it sends weapons to a country that is committing gross human rights violations. We believe that the quickest, most effective way to stop the genocide in Gaza – and to preserve the ceasefire -- is to cut off the flow of US weapons to Israel.

 

Furthermore, we stand ready to give our full support to U.S. military personnel who choose not to be party to genocide. We will continue to support students, teachers, medical workers and others who are compelled by their consciences to take stands against genocide and for freedom for the Palestinian people. We call on all reporters and editors to report fully on the experience of the Palestinian people.

We demand that the Trump administration and the Israeli government respect the hard-won Gaza ceasefire, that they permanently end the carnage in Gaza and the West Bank, that they cease the occupation of Palestinian land, and that they end the oppression of the Palestinian people. We call on all peace-loving people to join us in defending the righteous struggle of the Palestinian people for their freedom and sovereignty.                                                                                       

 Never Again Genocide!  Free, Free Palestine!

Originally posted January 27th at:  www.veteransforpeace.org/pressroom/news/2025/01/27/bruce-fein-and-ralph-nader-say-disobey-orders

Bruce Fein and Ralph Nader Say DISOBEY ORDERS

300 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Suite 300

Washington, D.C. 20001

Phone: 202-465-8728

 

 

DUTY TO DISOBEY CLEARLY ILLEGAL ORDERS

 

The law is clear.

 

Government officials, including members of the military, are saddled with a duty to disobey clearly illegal orders. The charter of the International Military Tribunal for the trial of the Nazi leadership, which established international law, provided in Article 8, “The fact that the Defendant acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior shall not free him of responsibility….”

 

The Court of Military Review in the prosecution of Lt .William Calley for the My Lai massacre added, “The acts of a subordinate done in compliance with an unlawful order given him by his superior are excused and impose no criminal liability upon him unless the superior’s order is one which a man of ordinary sense and understanding would, under the circumstances, know to be unlawful, or if the order in question is actually known to be accused to be unlawful.”

 

The risk is substantial that President Donald Trump will issue clearly illegal orders during his second stint at the White House. He voiced enthusiasm for torture in 2016 but then backed down when he confronted push back. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis was explicit: He would disobey an order to torture, including waterboarding. Moreover, Mr. Trump has displayed equal exuberance over the possibility of ordering the crime of aggression, i.e., wars not in self-defense, against Panama, Denmark, or Canada. The prevailing political hysteria shared by President Trump and Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio makes thinkable an illegal presidential order to initiate the crime of aggression against China over Taiwan or the South China Sea.

 

Mr. Trump will be more emboldened in his second term than in his first. The Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Untied States (July 1, 2024), conferred criminal and civil justice immunity on the President for any action taken in his official capacity. Moreover, Secretary of Defense-designate Pete Hegseth, during his confirmation hearing, refused to echo Mr. Mattis. Instead, Mr. Hegseth equivocated—an earmark of subservience.

 

The legal duty to disobey a presidential order to undertake aggressive war attaches to officials who occupy policymaking positions, de jure or de facto, controlling or directing the political or military action of a State. The International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg elaborated, “Somewhere between the dictator and supreme commander of the military forces of the nation and the common soldier is the boundary between the criminal and excusable participation in the waging of an aggressive war by an individual engaged in it.”

 

American wars not in self-defense, i.e., not response to actual or imminent aggression against the sovereignty of the United States, are clear international crimes, for example, the

1

 

 

2

 

United States invasion of Iraq in 2003 or attack on Libya in 2011. They were indistinguishable from crimes of aggressive war undertaken by leaders of the Third Reich against Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union.

 

Moreover, Article I, section 8, clause 11 of the United States Constitution entrusts the war power to Congress. The President is prohibited from using military force without a congressional declaration of war except in self-defense in response to a sudden attack which had already broken the peace. In other words, a presidential order to use military force in other circumstances without a congressional declaration of war would be clearly illegal and compel disobedience by principal officers of the United States with material influence over military or political policy.

 

President Trump may also issue clearly illegal orders under the Insurrection Act during his second term. It confers on the President virtually infinite discretion to displace civilian with military rule by declaring obstructions to the enforcement of federal law (10 U.S.C. 333):

 

“The President, by using the militia or the armed forces, or both, or by any other means, shall take such measures as he considers necessary to suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy, if it… (2) opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws.”

 

President Trump may invoke the Act to suppress by military force any political dissent by fact-free declarations that his detractors are obstructing the enforcement of federal laws by resorting to mob violence. A presidential order in such circumstances would be clearly illegal and compel disobedience from all principal officers endowed with material influence over political or military decisions of the President.

 

The duty to disobey clearly illegal orders is the last guard rail against dictatorship. Courage should be forthcoming accordingly.

 

Bruce Fein

Ralph Nader

ADC statements and notices on the arrest of Ali Abunimah, the new ceasefire, a new hotline, Harvard, Trump's new "Muslim Ban," more

Just around 11pm January 26th an exodus of people left for the north of Gaza?  

To the north, about 23 people, civilians and a Lebanese soldier, were killed and many more injured, by the Israeli military, in several places (?), as they tried to return to their homes in southern Lebanon.  Israel was in violation of its commitments to withdraw by a certain time, but the Lebanon ceasefire has been renewed or extended.

[ consortiumnews.com/2025/01/27/craig-murray-israeli-atrocities-continue-in-lebanon/

[ diario-octubre.com/2025/01/28/hizbulah-rechaza-extension-de-retirada-israeli-de-sur-de-libano/ ]

[BAJ -- Ali Abunimah:  My imprisonment in Switzerland -- www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGsMNLIteXw&ab_channel=TheElectronicIntifada  1:37:52]

consortiumnews.com/2025/01/27/outcry-at-2-day-detention-deportation-of-journalist-in-zurich/

consortiumnews.com/2025/01/25/caitlin-johnstone-another-journalist-arrested-in-on-western-nation-for-wrongthink-about-israel/

consortiumnews.com/2025/01/27/how-the-israel-lobby-tries-to-silence-criticism-of-israel/

www.councilestatemedia.uk/p/ali-abunimah-has-been-freed-by-swiss

www.councilestatemedia.uk/p/you-cant-criticise-israel-in-the

www.councilestatemedia.uk/p/gaza-double-standards-show-everything

jalalayn.substack.com/p/is-trump-going-to-be-any-better 

theworker.news/2025/01/28/two-judges-killed-in-tehran/

January 28th:  blackallianceforpeace.com/bapstatements/welcome-home-leonard-peltier

January 27th:  consortiumnews.com/2025/01/27/remembering-robert-parry-who-died-7-yrs-ago-today/

thenextrecession.wordpress.com/2025/01/28/ai-going-deepseek/

So they say (paywalled):  www.nknews.org/pro/in-changing-world-north-korea-has-little-to-gain-from-pro-regime-sympathizers/ ]

[NSOTA's Statement on the war in Gaza, etc.:  www.nsota.org/statement  (NSOTA is a new university-type institution, operating in-person in the UK and online.)

On Jamaal Bowman, etc.:  tempestmag.org/2025/01/dsa-never-recovered-from-bowman/

tempestmag.org/2025/01/leftist-studies-in-china-and-the-united-states/

tempestmag.org/2021/11/expel-jamaal-bowman/

Tempest Collective statement of solidarity with Ali Abunimah:  tempestmag.org/2025/01/solidarity-with-ali-abunimah/

There was a webinar on the "Syrian Revolution" February 2nd:  tempestmag.org/2025/01/whats-next-for-the-syrian-revolution/

On the current global economic order, "Capital's fairytales:"  newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/fire-and-spark

"Trump and tech:"  newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/fragile-leviathan

On the cancellation of the Romanian election (rescheduled to May 4th?):  newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/fractured-romania

Cuba and the US government's "SSTL:"  newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/abject-gesture

On David Lynch:  newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/women-in-trouble

On Trudeau:  newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/trudeaus-fall

France in Africa:  newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/the-franc-zone

On TJ Clark's Bruegel:  newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/world-upside-down

The environment and capitalism; "Technology and waste:"  newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/exponential-abyss

On the current global economic order; "On Joseph Stiglitz:"  newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/supply-sider ]

adc.org/media/press-releases/

The Electronic Intifada has at least one livestream each week, currently on Thursdays or Sundays, broadcast on YouTube, Facebook, Rumble, X/Twitter, Twitch, and Instagram:  www.electronicintifada.net

1.  Sent out by email the evening of January 25th (online at:  adc.org/ali-abunimah/ ); Palestinian-American journalist Ali Abunimah (born December 29, 1971 in Washington, DC:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Abunimah ) was arrested January 24th or before:

ADC Calls on Swiss Authorities to Immediately Release Journalist Ali Abunimah

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is outraged by news reports of the arrest of Ali Abunimah—founder and Executive Director of The Electronic Intifada and a prominent Palestinian rights advocate—by Swiss authorities. Mr. Abunimah, a United States citizen, has long been a committed voice against Israel’s injustices in Palestine, and his arrest appears to be a direct result of his outspoken advocacy.

 

In a statement posted by Electronic Intifada, Abunimah was arrested by Swiss police ahead of a speaking event in Zurich on Saturday afternoon. He is currently being detained and has had access to legal counsel. The arrest came one day after Abunimah arrived in Zurich for a speaking tour. When he arrived at Zurich airport on Friday, Abunimah was questioned by police for an hour before being allowed to enter the country.

 

ADC condemns the targeting of a journalist and human rights advocate for exercising freedom of expression. Speaking out against injustice in Palestine is not, and should never be considered, a crime. Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are universal fundamental rights that must be protected, not punished.

 

ADC stands in full solidarity with Abunimah and urgently demands his immediate release. We call on the U.S. State Department to fulfill its responsibility to protect the rights of its citizens abroad and do what it can to secure the safe and immediate release of Abunimah.

 

Abunimah’s arrest is a stark reminder of the increasing attempts to stifle voices calling for justice and accountability. We stand resolutely in support of journalists and advocates who risk their freedom and lives to expose human rights abuses and demand a more just and equitable world. We urge governments worldwide, and especially U.S. allies, to respect the fundamental freedoms of speech, expression, and press. Efforts to silence those who defend Palestinian rights set a dangerous precedent and must be unequivocally condemned.

 

ADC will continue to monitor this case closely and work with our partners, supporters, and the broader civil and human rights communities to ensure that justice prevails. We will not relent in defending Abunimah’s right to speak truth to power—or anyone else’s right to do the same.

 

Our work is not possible without your support. Consider making a contribution to ADC today.

 

2.  Sent out by email January 25th at mid-day:

Extremist Zionist Organizations Threatening Community Members

Dear ADC Members,

Almost one week into the new administration and we have already seen a number of Executive Actions taken by President Trump. Earlier this week ADC strongly opposed the new Executive Order titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” Under this new Executive Order, the Department of Homeland Security can deny or revoke visas based on ideological beliefs.

 

Since the signing of this Executive Order, a number of U.S. based extremist Zionist groups have begun harassing Arab, Palestinian students. These groups are directly contacting students and making threats to report them to DHS officials to be placed on a “jihadi deportee list.” These groups are also pressuring universities across the country to report the names of international students to DHS and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), in hopes of having them removed from the U.S.

 

Make no mistake - the actions taken by these radical third party groups have one intention, and that is to silence any students who show support for Palestine. All Americans must reject any attempts to use ideology as a basis of removal of individuals from the U.S., or to deny visa applications for entry into the U.S. These actions, along with the actions of extremist Zionist organizations, strip away the First Amendment Rights of Americans.

 

We will not relinquish our rights to freedom of speech, expression, and assembly simply to appease a foreign government.

 

ADC is closely monitoring and following reports of individuals being contacted and threatened. To provide the support needed for community members,  ADC launched its 24/7 Legal Intake Hotline. The hotline is a confidential way for community members to seek support on legal matters such as immigration issues,  workplace discrimination, school-based harassment, and more. After an intake, ADC attorneys will follow up directly with the client to provide support.

 

The Hotline, at 844-ADC-9955 (844-232-9955), is part of ADC’s broader legal strategy to address the new wave of challenges facing Arab and Muslim communities. Along with defending individuals from discrimination, ADC’s legal team will challenge policies that violate First Amendment rights and single out entire communities based on faith, ethnicity, or political opinion.

 

Individuals receiving emails from Zionist organizations threatening their immigration status are encouraged to contact ADC via email to legal[at adc org], or on our 24/7 ADC Legal Hotline at 844 - ADC - 9955.

 

Our work is not possible without your support. Consider making a contribution to ADC today.

 

3.  Sent out by email January 23rd in the afternoon:

Announcing the ADC Legal Hotline

Dear ADC Members,   In light of the growing challenges facing the community, ADC has launched an Emergency Legal Hotline to ensure legal support and protections for those who need it. The hotline, which is accessible 24/7, went live earlier this afternoon.   Since 1980, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has stood at the forefront of defending our community’s civil rights—through the post-9/11 targeting of Arab Americans, the 2017 Muslim Ban, the genocide in Gaza, and the relentless discrimination, persecution and speech suppression that defined them all.    We’ve been here before. And just as we did then, ADC is ready to fight back to ensure your rights are safeguarded. Our mission has never changed: to protect, empower, and advocate for the Arab-American community.   Announcing the ADC Legal Hotline   If you or someone you know is experiencing discrimination, has questions about immigration changes, labor rights, or even school-based harassment, the ADC Legal Hotline is here to help.   Call: 844-ADC-9955 (844-232-9955)   Your Support Is As Critical As Ever. We rely on your generosity to sustain and expand our legal services, advocacy efforts, and community programs. With your help, we can: Challenge unlawful, discriminatory Executive Orders and legislation. Protect families affected by xenophobic, anti- Arab and anti-Muslim immigration policies. Defend First Amendment rights and fight censorship in our schools and workplaces. Advocate for humane and just policies at the local, state, and federal levels. We’ve been fighting—and winning—these battles for nearly 45 years. ADC has proven time and again that we have the spine, experience and expertise to confront times of great adversity.   In these challenging times, your contribution makes a critical difference. Please make a donation today to help fortify ADC’s Legal Department and ensure we can respond effectively to this new wave of challenging policies.   Donate Here   If you are an attorney who would like to be added to our referral network, please sign up HERE.   Today, more than ever, may Arab Americans stand in integrity, in community, and unafraid—and ADC will always protect and uplift our people.   In solidarity,   Abed Ayoub ADC National Executive Director

[Re-posted:

Dear ADC Members,

 

In light of the growing challenges facing the community, ADC has launched an Emergency Legal Hotline to ensure legal support and protections for those who need it. The hotline, which is accessible 24/7, went live earlier this afternoon.

 

Since 1980, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has stood at the forefront of defending our community’s civil rights—through the post-9/11 targeting of Arab Americans, the 2017 Muslim Ban, the genocide in Gaza, and the relentless discrimination, persecution and speech suppression that defined them all. 

 

We’ve been here before. And just as we did then, ADC is ready to fight back to ensure your rights are safeguarded. Our mission has never changed: to protect, empower, and advocate for the Arab-American community.

 

Announcing the ADC Legal Hotline

 

If you or someone you know is experiencing discrimination, has questions about immigration changes, labor rights, or even school-based harassment, the ADC Legal Hotline is here to help.

 

Call: 844-ADC-9955 (844-232-9955)

 

Your Support Is As Critical As Ever. We rely on your generosity to sustain and expand our legal services, advocacy efforts, and community programs. With your help, we can:

1. Challenge unlawful, discriminatory Executive Orders and legislation.
2. Protect families affected by xenophobic, anti- Arab and anti-Muslim immigration policies.
3. Defend First Amendment rights and fight censorship in our schools and workplaces.
4. Advocate for humane and just policies at the local, state, and federal levels.

We’ve been fighting—and winning—these battles for nearly 45 years. ADC has proven time and again that we have the spine, experience and expertise to confront times of great adversity.

 

In these challenging times, your contribution makes a critical difference. Please make a donation today to help fortify ADC’s Legal Department and ensure we can respond effectively to this new wave of challenging policies.

 

Donate Here

 

If you are an attorney who would like to be added to our referral network, please sign up HERE.

 

Today, more than ever, may Arab Americans stand in integrity, in community, and unafraid—and ADC will always protect and uplift our people.

 

In solidarity,

 

Abed Ayoub

ADC National Executive Director ]

4.  Originally posted at:  adc.org/adc-announces-its-24-7-legal-hotline/

ADC Announces Its 24/7 Legal Hotline

Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | January 24, 2025 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) announced the launch of its 24/7 ADC Legal Hotline—a critical resource for those facing discrimination or seeking clarity on immigration policies. With the signing of a new Executive Order that threatens to replicate the discriminatory 2017 “Muslim Ban,” and the swift advancement of IHRA bills at both federal and state levels, the ADC Legal Hotline comes at a pivotal time for Arab and Muslim communities.

For nearly 45 years, ADC has stood at the forefront of defending Arab Americans—particularly during moments of heightened profiling, speech suppression, and persecution. From the post-9/11 era to the original Muslim Ban in 2017, ADC’s legal team has repeatedly exposed and challenged policies designed to silence and intimidate our communities. Today’s increased momentum behind xenophobic Executive Orders and IHRA legislation further underscores the urgent need for robust legal support and community solidarity.

“ADC has been on the legal frontlines during some of the most trying chapters in our history,” said Chris Godshall-Bennett, ADC’s Legal Director. “With the recent slew of Executive Orders that may exclude and remove individuals based on their backgrounds, beliefs, or associations, it is more important than ever for civil society groups—regardless of background—to come together and defend the integrity of our legal system. No one should face intimidation or persecution simply for their background or for expressing dissent. Freedom of speech must be preserved, and our nation’s immigration laws must adhere to the Constitution, the law, common sense, and humanity. The new ADC Legal Hotline is here to ensure that those targeted by these efforts are quickly connected to effective legal assistance.”

Through the ADC Legal Hotline, individuals can seek guidance on a broad range of issues, including immigration changes, workplace discrimination, school-based harassment, and more. Following the hotline intake, ADC attorneys will provide confidential assistance and help connect individuals to an extensive referral network of attorneys across the country.

The Hotline, reachable at 844-ADC-9955 (844-232-9955), is part of a broader expansion of ADC’s legal efforts to confront the new wave of legal challenges faced by Arab and Muslim communities in the United States. In addition to defending individuals facing discrimination, ADC’s legal team is poised to challenge the constitutionality of policies that undermine First Amendment rights and target entire communities based on faith, ethnicity, or political opinion.

5.  Originally posted at:  adc.org/statement-from-adc-on-harvard-universitys-adoption-of-the-ihra-definition-of-antisemitism/

Statement from ADC on Harvard University’s Adoption of the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism

Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | January 22, 2025 – Harvard University has now embraced the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which effectively declares criticism of Israel as a form of antisemitism. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the pro-Israeli lobby have spent extraordinary amounts of time mobilizing resources to pass the IHRA definition of anti-semitism in federal courts, state legislatures, and schools. This battle did not begin at Harvard University but rather has been decades in the making, with this announcement marking another attack on the freedom of speech of Arab Americans and other pro-Palestinian allies.

Rather than promoting genuine understanding of antisemitism, the IHRA definition weaponizes ‘antisemitism’ to undermine Palestine advocacy by criminalizing legitimate criticisms of the Israeli government. IHRA also criminalizes and punishes any criticism of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, which is recognized as illegal under international law.

The proposed definition is not intended to provide a concrete, functional definition of what constitutes antisemitic prejudice and discrimination, but rather it is an attempt to stifle the free speech and expression of all Americans.

The ADC, alongside other civil rights organizations, is concerned by the adoption of this definition and the potential consequences for Arab Americans and our allies. With Harvard taking on this definition and setting a precedent, it is imperative that other universities do not follow suit. We reject the need for any legislative definition of antisemitism, as it serves only to stifle necessary discourse rather than address true discrimination against Jewish people.

This definition harms the Palestinian movement and endangers students, faculty, and staff at universities. The students and employees at Harvard are now subject to hate crime allegations and potential administrative issues.

We call upon university leaders across the country to reject the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism and to uphold the First Amendment rights of pro-Palestinian allies.

6.  Sent out by email January 21st in the afternoon:

ADC Statement on Trump Travel Ban Executive Order

For Immediate Release

ADC Contact: media[at adc org]

 

Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | January 21, 2025 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) strongly opposes the new Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” This directive lays the groundwork for another discriminatory policy that targets individuals from predominantly Muslim and Arab countries—essentially replicating the notorious 2017 Muslim Ban. The government now has wider latitude to use ideological exclusion to deny visa requests and remove individuals who are already legally in the United States.

 

Using identical statutory powers in President Trump’s 2017 Muslim Ban Executive Orders, this new directive instructs the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report within 60 days identifying countries whose vetting and screening processes are deemed too deficient. That determination could trigger either partial or full suspensions on admitting nationals from these listed countries, as authorized by section 212(f) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)).

 

The new order goes a step further than its 2017 predecessor by adding language that opens the door to ideological exclusion by allowing the government to deny visas or entry based on perceived political opinions, religious beliefs, or cultural backgrounds:

 

“Section 1. Policy and Purpose.

 (a) It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from aliens who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

 

 (b) … And the United States must ensure that admitted aliens and aliens otherwise already present in the United States do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security.”

 

Moreover, the order authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to remove individuals from these identified countries who are already legally in the United States, again using ideology as a basis for removal. Such practices echo some of the most troubling chapters in our nation’s history, when the government barred and scrutinized people solely for their viewpoints or associations rather than any credible security concern.

 

ADC calls on the Trump Administration to stop stigmatizing and targeting entire communities, which only sows division. America’s promise of freedom of speech and expression—a principle that President Trump himself has long highlighted—now stands in stark contradiction to his new Executive Order. These measures, similar to the “Non-Profit Killer” and IHRA bills plaguing our federal and state legislatures, collectively chip away at our First Amendment rights from multiple angles, corroding the pillars of our democracy. We know that past iterations of the Muslim Ban failed to pinpoint actual threats, while imposing inhumane consequences on families seeking safety, reunion, or opportunity.

 

We cannot allow governments to continue to erode our First Amendment rights or to revive the fear and distrust that defined the post-9/11 era. Standing against these regressive measures is our shared responsibility. If we permit this corrosion of rights for one community, we risk the freedoms of all.

The ADC stands resolute in its commitment to protect the civil and human rights of Arab Americans and all who face discrimination. Our work depends on your support—particularly now, as we move to bolster the ADC Legal Department in response to this new Executive Order and anticipated future actions. Please consider donating today to help strengthen ADC’s legal efforts.

7.  Sent out by email the morning of January 17th:

ADC Statement on the Gaza Ceasefire

For Immediate Release

ADC Contact: media[at adc org]

 

Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | January 17, 2025 – After 15 months of genocide by Israel, a ceasefire agreement has been officially reached. ADC welcomes the announcement of the ceasefire in Gaza, and acknowledges the many challenges still ahead. One thing is abundantly clear – October 6, 2023 cannot be looked at as the status quo that Palestinians and the region must be forced to return to. As ADC stated 15 months ago:

 

For decades Israel has been perpetrating unspeakable crimes against humanity, collective punishment, and has sustained an open-air prison for Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip. It has allowed for the relentless and daily attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinian towns and cities, and the desecration of Holy sites. Palestinian families have been mercilessly torn apart, and generations of Palestinians have grown up in the grip of violent oppression by an occupying force. To overlook or minimize these facts is to lack depth in understanding and compromise moral clarity.

 

As the world focuses on the pause in Gaza bombings, we remind governments that ethnic cleansing, apartheid, occupation, and annexation persist in the West Bank and East Jerusalem—making lasting peace impossible. Any outcome allowing permanent military rule over Gaza or a recolonization of Palestinian land will merely reignite the genocide. The ultimate goal must be dismantling the blockade, ending the occupation and apartheid so Palestinians can determine their own future. Peace can only emerge when liberation, justice and accountability prevail, and when the international community works to end these inhumane conditions once and for all.

 

The genocide against Palestinians in not over. Palestinians in Gaza face a humanitarian crisis that is a continuation of the genocide: the forced starvation, destruction of healthcare infrastructure, and environmental devastation imposed by Israel’s illegal occupation and continuous bombing will continue taking lives. The U.S. and world community must do what they can to ensure that much needed humanitarian aid is entering Gaza. 

 

Throughout this crisis, President Biden’s administration delayed and undermined efforts to secure a ceasefire, isolating the United States on the global stage. Now, amid reports that the incoming President Trump and his team applied pressure to reach this deal, we cannot ignore the urgent need for accountability. The ceasefire does not absolve Israel of its war crimes or its systematic violation of international law, nor does it justify the U.S. rush to arm Israel without regard for internal concerns about war crimes and American legal obligations. A comprehensive review of U.S. arms transfers to Israel is imperative, and an arms embargo must be imposed to stop the relentless cycle of violence. 

 

Finally, we remember and honor the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian lives lost over the past 15 months. We will not forget the role our own government played in carrying out the genocide, including President Joe Biden choosing a legacy of genocide over peace. We will continue to advocate for an end to the occupation, a comprehensive arms embargo, and the liberation of Palestine. Let this ceasefire be the first decisive step toward ending an era of violence, and not a mere pause that delays the inevitable.

8.  Sent out by email the evening of January 10th:

ADC Joins Partners to File Title VI Complaint Against Santa Clara Unified School District

Dear [ ],   Hello, my name is Chris Godshall-Bennett, Legal Director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). I want to share an important development regarding our efforts to defend the rights and dignity of Arab and Palestinian students, parents, and educators.   Recently, ADC joined the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) of San Francisco Bay, the National Lawyers Guild of San Francisco Bay, and the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC) to file a Title VI civil rights complaint against the Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD). Our complaint states that SCUSD administrators engaged in or permitted actions that discriminated against Palestinian and Arab communities, resulting in a hostile educational environment. We are deeply concerned about restrictions on Palestinian perspectives in the classroom, incidents of harassment, and the uneven treatment of student-led events.   Our primary concern is ensuring the district upholds every student’s fundamental right to a safe and respectful learning atmosphere, free of discrimination and censorship. ADC stands ready to protect the rights of those facing discrimination and to ensure schools respect their obligations under Title VI and the First Amendment. We believe no student, parent, or educator should be silenced for expressing their identity or advocating for human rights.    The complaint has been formally submitted to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. While we await their determination, please know that ADC will remain steadfast in seeking just outcomes for all students who have been impacted.   Thank you for standing with us in this vital work. Should you have any questions or information that may aid our advocacy, please reach out at any time. We value your ongoing support and commitment to ADC’s mission of upholding the civil rights of Arab and Palestinian communities nationwide.

Chris Godshall-Bennett Legal Director American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)

[Re-posted:

Dear [ ]:

Hello, my name is Chris Godshall-Bennett, Legal Director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). I want to share an important development regarding our efforts to defend the rights and dignity of Arab and Palestinian students, parents, and educators.

Recently, ADC joined the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) of San Francisco Bay, the National Lawyers Guild of San Francisco Bay, and the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC) to file a Title VI civil rights complaint against the Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD). Our complaint states that SCUSD administrators engaged in or permitted actions that discriminated against Palestinian and Arab communities, resulting in a hostile educational environment. We are deeply concerned about restrictions on Palestinian perspectives in the classroom, incidents of harassment, and the uneven treatment of student-led events.

Our primary concern is ensuring the district upholds every student’s fundamental right to a safe and respectful learning atmosphere, free of discrimination and censorship. ADC stands ready to protect the rights of those facing discrimination and to ensure schools respect their obligations under Title VI and the First Amendment. We believe no student, parent, or educator should be silenced for expressing their identity or advocating for human rights. 

The complaint has been formally submitted to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. While we await their determination, please know that ADC will remain steadfast in seeking just outcomes for all students who have been impacted.

Thank you for standing with us in this vital work. Should you have any questions or information that may aid our advocacy, please reach out at any time. We value your ongoing support and commitment to ADC’s mission of upholding the civil rights of Arab and Palestinian communities nationwide.

Chris Godshall-Bennett

Legal Director

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) ]

9.  Sent out by email January 9th in the afternoon:

Update: U.S. Department of Education Orders Relief for Palestinian and Arab Students at Rutgers University Following ADC Complaint

Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | January 9, 2024 – After a complaint filed by ADC and CAIR-NJ last year, the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has directed Rutgers University to address probable violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The complaint alleged that Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students at Rutgers are facing unlawful discrimination and identity-based censorship. The Department of Education agreed.

OCR found that Rutgers failed to sufficiently respond to reports of discrimination made by Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students. Notably, OCR also determined that Rutgers likely violated Title VI by removing posters and memorials placed by Palestinian students to call attention to the ongoing genocide in Palestine because it selectively enforced university policies against Palestinian students [Has UNC-CH or its departments done this sort of thing?]. Furthermore, OCR found that Rutgers failed to protect its Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students from hostile actions by third parties, such as doxing and harassment.

OCR also resolved complaints of anti-Semitic harassment made by Jewish students at Rutgers. ADC welcomes OCR intervention in legitimate complaints of such discrimination, but rejects any conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism. We demand that OCR and all other government agencies refrain from making such a conflation when addressing anti-Jewish racism.

To address these violations, OCR directed the University to review all policy and procedures to ensure compliance with Title VI; to conduct listening sessions with Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim student organizations; to submit all complaints filed by students in 2023-2024 to OCR for review; to submit all disciplinary actions taken against students and student groups in 2023-2024 to OCR for review; to train employees on discrimination on the basis of shared ancestry; to provide annual non-discrimination training for campus police; and to administer a climate assessment of the university as a whole. OCR also directed Rutgers to re-assess and redress the harm faced by a particular student who experienced anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim discrimination. Rutgers will also be required to submit an audit of its 2024-2025 disciplinary records.

ADC Legal Director Chris Godshall-Bennett said, “Title VI exists to protect all students from discrimination on the basis of their race or shared ancestry. Palestinians are not an exception to this rule. Rutgers students deserve more from their university and we welcome OCR’s intervention to ensure that their rights are respected and protected. Nevertheless, the rights of students remain under attack and the conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism is a threat to both free expression and the fight against real antisemitism. ADC remains committed to ensuring our students can continue to lead the charge against genocide and apartheid without unlawful interference by their schools or the government itself.”

 

If you need assistance from the ADC Legal Department please email legal@adc.org.

Click here to support ADC by making a contribution today . 

About ADC

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the U.S., founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk.  ADC’s mission is to defend and promote the human rights, civil rights, and liberties of at least 3.7 million Arab Americans residing in the United States. Through its work, ADC fights discrimination in the U.S., enhances public understanding of Arab history and culture, and partners with marginalized communities globally to advance social justice.

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