Press release: Brown University Alumni For Palestine send open letter to Brown University leadership
The letter calls for the dropping of charges against student protesters and divestment from Israel and the military-industrial complex...
From a press release:
On Tuesday a group of grassroots organizers identifying as Brown University Alumni For Palestine have sent an open letter to Brown University President Christina Paxson, the Vice President of Alumni Relations, the Brown Corporation, and the Office of Student Conduct signed by over 1,200 alumni. The alumni represent members of graduating classes from 1977 to present.
“The university's failure to promptly address the atrocities in Gaza raises serious questions about its commitment to the principles of human rights and global responsibility. These actions not only deviate from the university's stated values but also threaten the very foundations of the ethos that has defined Brown University for generations.”
The letter has four demands:
Publicly condemn the ongoing genocide in Gaza and use its institutional influence to call on our federal delegation (including Representative Seth Magaziner, Representative Gabe Amo, Senator Jack Reed, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse) to push for a ceasefire in the region and end to United States military aid, not merely a humanitarian pause.
Implement measures to protect students, faculty, and staff from retribution for speaking out against the ongoing atrocities in Palestine. Ensure a campus environment that upholds the principles of free expression, and academic freedom. This includes but is not limited to groups like Students for Justice in Palestine, BrownU Jews for Ceasefire Now, Palestine Solidarity Caucus, etc.
Acknowledge and rectify the excessive use of police force against peaceful protesters, affirming the right of students to express their views without fear of retribution. All students must be granted amnesty for any demonstrations held.
Acknowledge and respect the democratic will of the university community and pursue divestment. Divestment has been democratically voted on three times, winning a landslide majority each time. Divest from Israel and the military-industrial complex and remove Maria Zuber, who has direct ties to Textron, from the Brown University Board.
In addition to this letter, Brown University Alumni For Palestine have organized a letter writing campaign so that alumni can tell university leadership that they will withhold all financial contributions to the university until these demands are met. This letter campaign coincides with I Heart Brown Day, one of the university’s fundraising pushes.
You can read the letter and see the signatures (updated daily) here.
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