Sunday, August 19, 2018

Stop Hate at San Francisco State

San Francisco State has long been described as one of the most anti-Semitic universities in America.  The situation came to a rolling boil last year, leaving frustrated students to take out a lawsuit in Federal court, alleging that the University administration ignored abuses directed towards Jewish students on campus.

Take a minute and sign a petition organized by StandWithUs urging the SFSU leadership to protect Jewish,  Israeli and pro-Israel students on campus

The text of the petition follows:

To SFSU and CSU leadership,

For too long, Jewish students have faced unacceptable intolerance and hate at San Francisco State University (SFSU).

From protesters shouting down the Mayor of Jerusalem in violation of the First Amendment, to Hillel being actively excluded from a "Know Your Rights" fair, to an official SFSU department Facebook page opposing the inclusion of Zionists on campus, the climate for Jewish students at SFSU is deeply problematic. Some are even afraid to openly wear Jewish symbols on campus.

The Jewish community had petitioned the SFSU Administration for years to demand action, and while some progress has been made, administrators continue to drag their feet on a number of key issues. You have yet to make any official statement about the Know Your Rights Fair and have failed to remove offensive content posted on the official Facebook page of the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas (AMED) Studies Department.

The Jewish community deserves a safe learning environment, just like all other communities at SFSU. This includes the many Jewish students who believe in Israel's right to exist and see Israel as an important part of their identity.

As such, we call on you the leadership of SFSU and CSU to:

1. Make a clear statement condemning the exclusion of Hillel from the Know Your Rights Fair in February, 2017, as contrary to the values of the University.

2. Establish clear regulations stating that official SFSU department Facebook pages must adhere to university policy, and ensure that the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas (AMED) Studies Department removes its offensive Facebook post.

3. Make a clear statement that any effort to exclude and/or marginalize Jewish students and organizations based on their support for Israel's existence will not be tolerated at SFSU.

Please sign the petition here
Stop Intolerance and Hate at San Francisco StateWrite to San Francisco State and Demand Action Against Intolerance

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