The Austin chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Austin) plans to join the Austin branch of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP-Austin), Palestine Solidarity Committee, Palestine Solidarity SMTX, and the Young Democratic Socialists of America at Texas State University for a news conference condemning Texas State University President Kelly Damphouse’s anti-Palestinian comments and urging him to retract them.
On October 14th, while attending a memorial to selectively honor Israeli victims of October 7th, Texas State University President Damphousse equated pro-Palestine and anti-war slogans such as “Viva Palestine” and “Hands off Lebanon” to antisemitic slogans in an attempt to carry on the false conflation created by Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-44 that sought to punish anti-genocide students, staff, and faculty in Texas higher education.
SEE: San Marcos community holds memorial to honor Israeli victims of October 7
WHAT: Press Conference Condemning Texas State University President’s Recent Islamophobic and Antisemitic Comments
WHEN: Monday, October 28th, 2024, at 12:00 PM CST
WHERE: Stallions, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas
CONTACT: PSC TXST, txstpsc@gmail.com; YDSA @ TXST, 254-368-9774, txstydsa@gmail.com; Palestine Solidarity SMTX, 203-417-9114, sanmarcosforpalestine@gmail.com
Palestine Solidarity Committee, Palestine Solidarity SMTX, and the Young Democratic Socialists of America at Texas State University strongly reject any conflation of pro-Palestine and anti-genocide slogans with antisemitism. Such a conflation is harmful to Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities and a threat to the academic freedom of our university. Punishing the advocacy voice for Palestinians’ human rights and criticism of an active genocide is both Islamophobic and antisemitic, and in no way protects our Jewish students and educators from antisemitism. We call upon President Damphousse to retract his statements and to ensure the safety of all students and educators from different backgrounds including those who honor human life and advocate for end to the genocide in Palestine.
The Operations Manager of CAIR-Austin, Shaimaa Zayan, said in a statement:
“The attempts to suppress free speech that doesn’t align with the official stance are getting more and more ridiculous. CAIR-Austin vocally and actively rejects and opposes all these attempts including attempts to pass legislations that harm peaceful protestors and strip them of their first amendment rights, justify using unnecessary and excessive force against protestors, and finally perpetuate this dangerous conflation of anti-genocide slogans with antisemitism.”
Jewish Voice of Peace Austin member, Elaine Cohen, said in a statement:
“Ignoring the international recognition of the genocidal campaign of Israel on the people of Gaza and the occupied territories is a mistake many in positions of authority will come to regret. Sadly, there are Jewish students who have yet to realize that it is the actions of the state of Israel that puts them in danger, not the students who courageously protest the ethnic cleansing and war crimes of Israel.”
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