The Solidarity Question: Why is Palestine Important to Antiracist Student Organizing?

During the spring semester, AU’s Antiracist Research and Policy Center hosted a Lunch and Learn event titled The Solidarity Question: Why is Palestine Important to Antiracist Student Organizing? The event focused on pro-Palestine student organizing through an academic perspective, bringing in experts in history, social movement theory, and decolonial theory to engage in dialogue together and with students in attendance. This transcription is intended to be used as an archive for those who are interested and were not able to attend.

Most of Us Are Mad

Ask yourself: has the university admin already chosen a side?

Considering the death threat sent to a Palestinian faculty member and how there was not much done to protect Palestinian members of our community after this. Also consider how the admin has rarely mentioned the Palestinian community in their emails, while almost always, the Jewish community was mentioned at least a few times per email. Admin has already chosen a side. A side they cannot say out loud because they’re supposed to be “inclusive.” They even have chosen to reinvent the curriculum of AUx 2, and even getting the FBI involved. Has anything happened? Not that I’m aware of. Previously, it was all about racism and teaching us students at this PWI about what intersectionality is, to a point where we know what it is and it feels like they are covering their asses by saying “we force everyone to take a class that teaches them to be inclusive.”

Campus, Culture, CurrentThe Rival AmericanJanuary 31, 2024Palestine, Israel, Free Speech, American University, protest, activism

Student Speech, Education Policy, and College Campuses Today

On December 4th, 2023, the Antiracist Research and Policy Center hosted a panel titled Student Speech, Education Policy, and College Campuses Today to discuss the recent infringements of student activists’ free speech. As anti-genocide and pro-Palestinian activism have surged on college campuses due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, A.R.P.C. invited scholars Thea Abu El-Haj, Lara Schwartz, Miriam Durrani, William Youmans, and Dwayne Wright to share their expertise with the A.U. community, hosted by A.U.’s own Aamarah DeCuir. This transcription is intended to be used as an archive for those who are interested in the topic and were not able to attend.