NEW JERSEY SOLIDARITY OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR MCGREEVEY
July 14, 2003
Dear Governor McGreevey,
New Jersey Solidarity - Rutgers Chapter is deeply disturbed to read of
your press spokesperson, Micah Rasmussen's, comments to the Press of
Atlantic City on July 12, 2003, and is appalled to witness the
involvement of the state government, including your office of the
Governor, in seeking to silence student free speech and free expression at
Rutgers University.
In regards to the upcoming Third North American Conference of the
Palestine Solidarity Movement, which we will host at Rutgers on October
10-12, 2003, Rasmussen stated that you find our principles and practice
"abhorrent," and that your office has been "gathering information" about
our possible "history of violence;" he further noted that, while we were
not, indeed listed, the office had inquired as to whether we are a
"suspected terrorist organization." At no time in the course of this
"investigation" have we been contacted by the Governor's office or a
representative; furthermore, to imply that a student organization engaging
in solidarity work with the Palestinian struggle for national liberation
is deserving of "investigation" for "violence" and "terrorism" is
especially McCarthyesque and chilling in light of the assault upon civil
liberties and specifically on Muslim and Arab communities in recent years.
This sort of criminalization of our work as a solidarity group -
organizing rallies, demonstrations, petitions, educational events,
speakers, film showings, literature distribution and other forms of public
outreach and consciousness-raising for justice in Palestine - is designed
to create a chilling atmosphere, first for Palestinian voices, and
secondarily for all student organizers engaged in political work.
Rutgers University has repeatedly expressed its support for student
freedom of speech and freedom of expression. As a student organization, we
have the right to engage in political advocacy for justice in Palestine
and support of the Palestinian people's struggle for national liberation.
Our rights should not be abridged by politicians seeking to stifle student
voices for political gain. The University is, and must be, independent of
the state government; otherwise, its function as a public institution of
higher education is relegated to a subsidiary role to its support of state
officials' interests in political expediency.
As Governor of the State of New Jersey, you are responsible for upholding
the Constitution - including the First Amendment. It is incumbent upon you
to respect student freedom of speech, civil liberties and civil rights,
and recognize our right to organize, assemble and act. All attacks on our
organization and our conference by the State of New Jersey must end - they
are nothing more than the imposition of official state censorship and must
be rejected.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
New Jersey Solidarity - Rutgers Chapter
