A few weeks ago some not so well-known figure from the hierarchy at UNC, maybe Provost Christopher Clemens ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Clemens ), appeared on NC PBS' Carolina Business Journal, addressing, among other issues, that 'terrible,' peaceful protest UNC violently dispersed in late April 2024. The views of Clemens and UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts are quoted in www.publicedworks.org/2024/05/protesters-crossed-a-line/ , etc. UNC wants me to give them money and personal information after their recent actions and so many universities in the USA demonstrated in 2024-2025 how they will beat and betray students who dissent, including rolling over to the Federal government. It isn't good publicity for their academic programs. When I referred to 'Marxist professors' a year ago, I mainly meant people who teach courses with Marxist in the title, etc., but aren't defending the protestors, their student body, though maybe they did so quietly. Of course, teaching a course doesn't mean that a person has Marxist politics and I imagine that many reactionaries taught courses on Marxism-Leninism and "comparative communism" during the Cold War (their textbooks can be found at friends of the library used booksales today). The towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro apparently didn't participate in the police crackdown in 2024 (while Boone, etc. from around the State did), though I suspect that parts of the Chapel Hill government are working to support Roberts, Clemens, and Netanyahu. I want to say génocidaires, as in Rwanda ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Génocidaires ). UNC organized events on "free speech" last fall, and Monday, March 17th UNC's Center for Jewish Studies is going to discuss anti-Zionism versus anti-Semitism, but I doubt UNC's intentions.
I can't vouch for these fundraisers, but I heard about them:
UNC Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine - FJP has raised $17,298 dollars from 334 donors, so far, for disabled UNC student Laura Saavedra: www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-disabled-student-activist-being-targeted-by-unc
They posted an update February 25th:
"*** UPDATE: Morehead-Cain has permanently canceled Laura's scholarship. More funds are needed to get her through her last semester at UNC. ***
First, let us begin extending both our and Laura's gratitude for all those who have donated to this GoFundMe. Without you, Laura’s senior year at UNC would have been even more difficult.
Unfortunately, the Morehead-Cain Foundation is continuing its efforts to intimidate and repress its scholars in order to silence them from protesting against UNC’s complicity in Israel’s genocide in Palestine. On January 6th, the Foundation has informed Laura that her scholarship would be permanently terminated despite her exoneration in the student honor court and entering a deal leading to the dismissal of her bogus misdemeanor charges. Yesterday, an article was published by The Daily Tarheel telling Laura’s story and the repression she was subjected to by the Morehead-Cain Foundation well before the Gaza Solidarity Encampment (https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2025/02/sp-morehead-cain-loses-scholarship).
On November 15, 2024, the Foundation sent Laura a letter asserting that it would be “highly unlikely that [she] will be reinstated” citing this GoFundMe campaign as one of the reasons. The Foundation appears to be punishing Laura for trying to find other means to fund her education despite the fact that it was them who put her in that position.
If you can, we kindly ask that you consider donating to this campaign. Please share it with others who may be able to contribute."
Duke Academics for Justice in Palestine raised $50,530 (now closed): www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-unc-palestine-encampment-arrestees
A search for "Mahmoud Khalil" brings up 121 results: www.gofundme.com/s?q=mahmoud+khalil
Originally posted March 11th at: www.acluofnorthcarolina.org/en/press-releases/suit-filed-against-unc
ACLU OF NC, EMANCIPATE NC, AND MUSLIM ADVOCATES FILE SUIT AGAINST UNC
RALEIGH, N.C. - The ACLU of North Carolina, Emancipate NC and Muslim Advocates have filed a lawsuit challenging the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s ongoing punishment of certain individuals involved in the nondisruptive, pro-Palestine encampment on campus last spring.
On April 26, 2024, UNC students and non-students established the encampment to bring awareness to the genocide perpetrated against Palestinians in Gaza. At around 5:30AM on April 30, 2024, UNC administrators told some encampment participants that they had less than 30 minutes to disperse or face arrest. Law enforcement then forcibly cleared the encampment and violently arrested the students and non-students on site, kicking the cane out from under one visibly disabled protestor, causing her to tear her rotator cuff. Arrested students were, without any form of due process, immediately suspended from classes and issued trespass bans from campus. Arrested non-students were charged with criminal trespass and, without any form of due process, immediately issued lifetime bans from campus.
This lawsuit alleges that these actions violate the rights to free speech, due process, and the right to be free from excessive force by law enforcement.
Ivy Johnson, Staff Attorney for the ACLU of NC, issued the following statement:
“The right to protest and speak freely is a fundamental pillar of our democracy and is especially important on university campuses, which often serve as social, cultural, and community gathering spaces for members of the public. Universities are and must be testing grounds for sharing, challenging, and defending the ideas that help shape a healthier democracy. These actions by UNC administrators run counter to the missions of higher education and the deep-rooted protections of the First Amendment.”
Jaelyn Miller, Staff Attorney for Emancipate NC, issued the following statement:
"UNC's actions are part of a larger trend in this country towards fascism and suppression of dissent. Despite Carrboro and Chapel Hill police emphatically rejecting UNC’s request, police departments all over the State, including as far away Boone, eagerly showed up to engage in violent, excessive force against individuals who were peaceful and committing no crime."
Reem Subei, Senior Staff Attorney for Muslim Advocates, issued the following statement:
“UNC’s punitive response to the April 2024 encampment on its campus far outweighs its response to past protests involving other viewpoints. This is part of a national trend of state repression against the student movement for Palestine. Whether it’s through academic disciplinary action, arrest and criminalization, or deportation, universities and law-enforcement agencies are trying to silence speech for Palestinian lives and freedom. And this is coming at a cost not only to brave protesters but to everyone’s right to dissent against government harm. It contradicts the First Amendment and must be stopped.”
This suit follows delivery of a letter written by the ACLU of NC, Palestine Legal, Emancipate NC and the National Lawyers Guild urging UNC administrators to cease prosecution and disciplinary action against protesters. We are asking the Court to declare that UNC's actions are unconstitutional and order UNC to reinstate our plaintiffs' access to campus.
You can review the lawsuit below.
Originally posted March 12th at: muslimadvocates.org/2025/03/unc-sued-for-violating-students-free-speech-rights/
UNC Sued for Violating Students’ Free Speech Rights
Muslim Advocates, the ACLU of North Carolina, & Emancipate NC are taking UNC to court.
What happened?
Along with other student groups, unaffiliated students, and non-students, the UNC chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine set up an encampment on Friday, April 26, 2024, in solidarity with student protests for Palestine around the country.
The encampment did not block pathways and did not disrupt classes, rather, it provided an opportunity for participants to engage in informative teach-ins, diverse religious practices, and community building. The three demands from the organization were written in red and black on a banner attached to a tent. These demands say: “commit to transparency on UNC investment,” “divest from products supporting Israeli genocide and full academic boycott” and “work with students faculty and staff to ensure UNC complies.”
At around 5:30 a.m. on April 30, 2024, UNC administrators told some encampment participants that they had less than 30 minutes to disperse or face arrest. Law enforcement then forcibly cleared the encampment and violently arrested the students and non-students on site, kicking the cane out from under one visibly disabled protester, causing her to tear her rotator cuff. Arrested students were, without any form of due process, immediately suspended from classes and issued trespass bans from campus. Arrested non-students were charged with criminal trespass and, without any form of due process, immediately issued lifetime bans from campus.
Why this lawsuit matters?
UNC’s actions violate the rights to free speech, due process, and the right to be free from excessive force by law enforcement. This crackdown is part of a broader trend of universities and law-enforcement agencies’ suppressing dissent, especially activism for Palestinian lives and liberation.
This suit follows delivery of a letter written by the ACLU of NC, Palestine Legal, Emancipate NC and the National Lawyers Guild urging UNC administrators to cease prosecution and disciplinary action against protesters. We are asking the Court to declare that UNC’s actions are unconstitutional and order UNC to reinstate our plaintiffs’ access to campus.
Statements by counsel on the case:
Reem Subei, Senior Staff Attorney for Muslim Advocates, issued the following statement:
“UNC’s punitive response to the April 2024 encampment on its campus far outweighs its response to past protests involving other viewpoints. This is part of a national trend of state repression against the student movement for Palestine. Whether it’s through academic disciplinary action, arrest and criminalization, or deportation, universities and law-enforcement agencies are trying to silence speech for Palestinian lives and freedom. And this is coming at a cost not only to brave protesters but to everyone’s right to dissent against government harm. It contradicts the First Amendment and must be stopped.”
Ivy Johnson, Staff Attorney for the ACLU of NC, issued the following statement:
“The right to protest and speak freely is a fundamental pillar of our democracy and is especially important on university campuses, which often serve as social, cultural, and community gathering spaces for members of the public. Universities are and must be testing grounds for sharing, challenging, and defending the ideas that help shape a healthier democracy. These actions by UNC administrators run counter to the missions of higher education and the deep-rooted protections of the First Amendment.”
Jaelyn Miller, Staff Attorney for Emancipate NC, issued the following statement:
“UNC’s actions are part of a larger trend in this country towards fascism and suppression of dissent. Despite Carrboro and Chapel Hill police emphatically rejecting UNC’s request, police departments all over the State, including as far away Boone, eagerly showed up to engage in violent, excessive force against individuals who were peaceful and committing no crime.”
You can review the lawsuit here.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment