We, Students for Justice in Palestine, as well as countless individuals from across the California Community College system, have banded together from all walks of life. We are a diverse coalition that consist of all people of every color, nationality, religion, etc. Despite these differences, what brings us together is our common human identity. That’s why we are greatly concerned about the human rights abuses in Palestine, and the thought that our college system could be complicit in such gross violations is unbearable.
For almost half a century, the Palestinian territories have been brutally occupied, which eventually resulted in the subjugation of millions of people, constructed on racial superiority and an illegal colonial network. The occupation, as documented by numerous human rights groups and multinational entities, results in some of the most horrid conditions. Conditions such as, but not limited to: water deprivation, segregation, racially-based legal systems, systematic home demolitions, and the restrictions against the freedom of movement, have resulted in one of the worst cases of systematic oppression gone largely unchecked. This system of abuse, as documented by many reputable organizations, including the United Nations, directly parallels the former South African system of Apartheid. This unjust system of human rights abuse have created an urgency amongst students throughout the community college system to take action in order to hold the Board of Governors accountable for any investments that profit from these abuses.
As a result, we, the students of the California Community College system, call upon the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC) to stand in solidarity with other California and National Universities by passing a resolution to divest from companies that profit from human rights abuses in Palestine. It is imperative that the college system examine it’s financial holdings to be certain that students aren’t paying their tuition dollars that in turn, is invested into certain companies that directly profit from the abuses in Palestine. Companies such as RE/MAX directly profit from the selling of segregated housing, and these housing units are illegal under international law. Others, such as Veolia, also profit from segregated systems such as roads and bus-lines. Lastly, companies such as Caterpillar Inc. profit from the systematic and discriminatory bulldozing of Palestinian homes, rendering thousands homeless.
Bravo!
“The issues of the world are our issues, for we are the future leaders of the free world and retain a common human element that’s unlimited.”
Students like you ARE the leaders!
this is a tad ot, just thought i’d mention…viscerally speaking one thing pops way out on this article simply by virtue of the way it looks on the page.
new (targeted) kid on the block RE/MAX is going to take a long term hit for its involvement in apartheid. unlike caterpillar (regular people don’t purchase their products very often), individuals , as opposed to corporations and gov entities, buy houses. especially kids who go to college. i wouldn’t list my house on RE/MAX nor purchase one from a RE/MAX agent. and unlike soda stream or skin care every single transaction is generally in the thousands if not the tens of thousands. and people have long long memories.
power to sjp! power to california community college students! power to BDS!
free palestine
Thank you so much! Follow our divestment campaign on twitter!
https://twitter.com/SJPLAVC