CAIR-NY Calls on Political Leaders to Stop "Endangering" Students Peacefully Protesting at Universities
(NEW YORK, NY, 4/23/2024) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, calls on political leaders and university officials to stop "endangering" Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian and other students who have been holding sit-ins to peacefully protest the genocide in Gaza and their universities' financial investments with the Israeli government.
CAIR-NY also today called on Columbia University, New York University, and other colleges to reverse suspensions of student protesters and for the NYPD to drop criminal charges against students who have been arrested for peacefully protesting.
CAIR-NY's Executive Director, Afaf Nasher, stated:
“The fundamental right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of academic institutions that students have famously used dating all the way back to the Vietnam War. Using police force to suppress peaceful dissent undermines the principles of academic freedom and stifles the voices of those advocating for a humanitarian ceasefire. So does defaming and endangering Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian other students based on suspiciously inflammatory remarks that a few unidentified, masked individuals have made outside of campus.
"Students should not have to risk their reputation, livelihoods or their safety to speak out against a genocide or their university's complicity in genocide. The attempts by political leaders and university leaders to smear and silence this diverse collection of students, the overwhelming majority of whom have been peaceful and respectful, are unacceptable.
"We call on university officials to reverse the suspension of students who were disciplined for peaceful protest, ask the NYPD to drop any criminal charges in connection to their advocacy, and sit down with students to address their demands for an end to any school involvement in the Israeli government's human rights abuses, including the genocide in Gaza. College campuses are supposed to be the epicenters of debate and free speech, but instead peaceful protesters from all walks of life and of every religion, including Jewish students, are being punished for opposing Israel's actions. This must stop now.”
She noted that CAIR-NY has called out Columbia University’s actions against student protesters on several occasions.
SEE: CAIR-NY Condemns Columbia University, NYPD Actions against Peaceful Protesters
If you have experienced discrimination or violence during an arrest at a protest, please contact CAIR-NY by filling out an incident report on our website: https://www.cair-ny.org/report-incident.
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq., Executive Director, anasher@cair.com, 917-669-4006;
Lamya Agarwala, Esq., Supervising Attorney, LAgarwala@cair.com;
Saira Amar, MPA, CAIR-NY, Communications Coordinator, SAmar@cair.com