NATIONAL PALESTINE SOLIDARITY AND DIVESTMENT CONFERENCE GEARS UP FOR RUTGERS UNIVERSITY OCTOBER 10-12

August 30, 2003

New Brunswick, NJ . Over objections of New Jersey Governor McGreevey and State Senate President Bennett, the Palestine Solidarity Movement and Rutgers students are exercising their hard-won rights and moving ahead with plans to host the Third North American Conference of the Palestine Solidarity Movement to be held October 10-12, 2003. The conference brings together hundreds of student and community groups working in solidarity with the Palestinian people and for divestment from Israel.

Scheduled for Rutgers since January of this year the conference and its organizers have overcome attacks from New Jersey State Senate President John Bennett, Governor James McGreevey and political players active in policy-making regarding Israel. Student and community-based groups around the country are working to develop a program that will focus their work together over the coming year.

The conference comes at a critical time for a solidarity movement whose focus is ending Israel's apartheid. The students' efforts to support divestment build on the successful legacy of the South African freedom movement. Conference workshops and speakers will direct their attention to stopping Israel's construction of the apartheid wall, dismantling settlements and supporting Palestinian self-determination.

The PSM conference is scheduled to take place at the Douglass College Center in New Brunswick, NJ. Students are still grappling with the University's latest attempts to stifle their efforts, this time to move the conference under the pretext of "security."

Solidarity with the Palestinian people is widespread, with numerous events across the country and around the world. Organizers of this conference are pleased to take part in this legacy and support any additional events, wherever they may be held.