The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today applauded the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)’s Student Government Association (SGA)’s historic vote late last evening to pass Joint Resolution JR 01-2324 calling on the institution to boycott and divest from entities complicit in violating Palestinian human rights.
SEE: SGA Joint Resolution in Favor of UMBC Boycotting and Divesting from Entities Complicit in the Violation of Palestinian Human Rights
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_1Ak38n2als-HZ5RwQTqEhULdQyWFrT_IhzvJbrlvCo/edit
UMBC Students for Justice Announcement
https://www.instagram.com/p/C4LxHIFOUIq/?igsh=MTQyeW5tc2o4cjN6bw==
“This groundbreaking development is a testimony to the tireless advocacy of students who’ve been compelled by the injustices in Palestine to advocate for change within their circles of influence,” said CAIR’s Maryland director Zainab Chaudry. “This joint resolution sends a resounding message that our institutions of learning shouldn’t be complicit in human rights violations. By divesting from entities who fuel oppression, universities affirm their commitment to justice, peace and dignity for all.”
The joint resolution reads:
Whereas, UMBC is “dedicated to cultural and ethnic diversity”, “redefining excellence” through an “inclusive culture”, and “advancing knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice”,
And whereas, the United Nations, International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice, and United States Federal Court and multiple human rights organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Jewish Voices for Peace recognize that there are crimes against humanity being committed against the Palestinian people. These crimes include genocide, apartheid, ethnic cleansing, torture, false imprisonment, sexual violence, indiscriminate airstrikes on civilians; schools; and hospitals, state sanctioned violence, imperialist annexation, persecution, oppression, obstruction on religious liberties, exile of indigenous Palestinians, and more,
And whereas, in Gaza there are over 2 million Palestinians under siege since 2006 making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world and referred to as an extermination camp since military airstrikes are often launched into the territory with no escape. The UN Secretary- General Antonio Guterres said, “If there is hell on earth, it is the lives of children in Gaza.”
And whereas, about 6 million Palestinians live in the global diaspora due to their forced removal, the annexation of their land, and prohibitions on their return. This land is then illegally settled and the oppressors profit off of the exploitation of Palestinian people and resources,
And whereas, these academic institutions aid in the development of weapons systems utilized in war crimes, withhold deceased Palestinian’s bodies for university studies without consent, and systemically discriminate against Palestinian students,
And whereas, the systemic oppression of Palestinians amounts to apartheid, so the businesses and academic institutions constructing the apartheid state are complicit in violating Palestinian’s human rights,
And whereas, the Palestinian Genocide is ongoing with over 29,000 Palestinians killed and over 69,000 injured in the last four months,
And whereas, UMBC has past and ongoing collaborations, investments, and practices that aid in the oppression of Palestinian people,
And whereas, about 100 student governments across the nation have passed resolutions requesting their universities to academically and economically boycott and divest from all entities complicit in the human rights crimes being committed against Palestinians
Therefore, Let It Be Resolved, that the UMBC SGA acting within its official capacity as representative of the undergraduate student body hereby requests that:
- UMBC academically and economically boycott, divest, and discontinue relationships with businesses, governments, institutions, universities, and other entities or organizations that violate or are complicit in the violation of Palestinian’s human rights including their oppression, the annexation of their land, their forced displacement, and that support the genocidal ethnic cleansing and apartheid system against them.
- UMBC actively protects Palestinian students and their allies as they advocate for justice for the Palestinian people.
With this vote, UMBC’s SGA has made history by becoming the first in the State of Maryland to pass a such a measure in support of Palestinian human rights.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062