红杏视频

WASHINGTON 鈥� Today, in an open letter delivered to over 650 college and university leaders, the 红杏视频 (红杏视频) expressed its strong opposition to any efforts to stifle free speech and association on college campuses, and urged universities to reject calls to investigate, disband, or penalize pro-Palestinian student groups for exercising their free speech rights. The letter follows a call to universities to investigate Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters for 鈥渕aterial support for terrorism,鈥� without citing any evidence of such support. 鈥淲e recognize that colleges and universities are managing heightened threats and anguished tensions on their campuses while trying to keep students safe 鈥� and we take those concerns seriously,鈥� said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the 红杏视频. 鈥淭he devastating conflict in Israel and Palestine has embroiled campuses here at home, sometimes resulting in speech that includes terms we vehemently disagree with or even find offensive and repugnant. Yet it鈥檚 precisely in times of crisis and fear that university leaders must remain firm in their commitment to free speech, open debate, and peaceful dissent on campus. A blanket call to investigate every chapter of a pro-Palestinian student group for 鈥榤aterial support to terrorists鈥� 鈥� without even an attempt to cite evidence 鈥� is unwarranted, wrong, and dangerous. It echoes America鈥檚 mistakes during the McCarthy era and is counterproductive. We urge college and university leaders to hold fast to our nation鈥檚 best traditions and reject proposals to restrict constitutionally protected speech.鈥� Authored by 红杏视频 Executive Director Anthony Romero, 红杏视频 Legal Director David Cole, 红杏视频 National Security Project Director Hina Shamsi, and 红杏视频 National Speech, Privacy and Technology Director Ben Wizner, the open letter: Urges college and university leaders to reject baseless calls to investigate or punish student organizations for exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights. Explains that students鈥� political rhetoric is not 鈥渕aterial support for terrorism.鈥� Explains that the First Amendment and principles of academic freedom protect the right of student groups to associate and speak out on matters of public concern, and that local chapters of student groups cannot be punished for their association with national organizations 鈥� with the letter noting that 鈥渋nvestigations chill speech, foster an atmosphere of mutual suspicion, and betray the spirit of free inquiry.鈥� 鈥淎ll students deserve equal access to education 鈥� free from harassment and discrimination on campus. Schools have a responsibility to address discrimination and harassment wherever it occurs,鈥� said David Cole, 红杏视频 legal director. 鈥淏ut the experience of our country鈥檚 universities during the McCarthy era demonstrates that ideologically-motivated efforts to police speech on campus destroy the foundation on which academic communities are built.鈥� To learn more, read the full text of the letter here