Statement on Cuomo's Anti-BDS Executive Order

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Statement on Cuomo's Anti-BDS Executive Order

Executive Order No. 157 is a blatantly unconstitutional attack on freedom of speech and establishes a dangerous precedent reminiscent of McCarthyism. It is unprecedented for a state to create a list of entities that support or engage in a First Amendment protected political activity, and deny them financial benefits because of it. Boycotts are a constitutionally-protected form of speech, association and assembly, and have a long history of being used successfully to address injustice and demand political change.

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Brooklyn College Students Cleared at Controversial Disciplinary Hearing

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Brooklyn College Students Cleared at Controversial Disciplinary Hearing

In a written decision issued last Friday, a City University of New York (CUNY) disciplinary committee exonerated Sarah Aly and Thomas DeAngelis, two Brooklyn College students charged with violating the “Henderson Rules” for taking part in a February 16 “mic check” at a meeting of faculty council. The students, seniors Sarah Aly and Thomas DeAngelis, appeared at a hearing to face harsh measures for the mic check, including possible expulsion. The day after the mic check, the college’s president and provost sent an email to the entire college community, falsely stating that the group of students had made “anti-Jewish comments” at the meeting. Palestine Legal and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) represented the two students at the hearing and are urging Brooklyn College President Gould to apologize.

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Union officials suppress member support for BDS

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Union officials suppress member support for BDS

As a growing number of local unions endorse Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) in solidarity with Palestinian workers, the United Auto Workers (UAW) Public Review Board last week affirmed a decision to nullify the BDS resolution adopted by members of Local 2865.
 

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St. Louis University has a racial discrimination and speech suppression problem

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St. Louis University has a racial discrimination and speech suppression problem

Today, Palestine Legal wrote to the president of St. Louis University to express outrage over the school’s decision to discipline sophomore Christopher Winston for expressing his political viewpoints at a student-organized event about Israel’s humanitarian aid around the world. SLU’s decision to punish Mr. Winston, who is black, raises serious questions about the university’s ability to implement its policies in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of race and in a manner that respects diverse political viewpoints

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Michael Ratner's Palestine Legacy

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Michael Ratner's Palestine Legacy

As we grapple with the reality that Palestine Legal’s founding Advisory Board member and trailblazing human rights attorney, Michael Ratner, is no longer with us, we wanted to share some examples of his thinking and work for Palestinian human rights.  Since his death last week, much has been said of his pioneering legal work – from the Democracy Now! special, to the New York Times obituary, to the Center for Constitutional Rights’ (CCR) statement, and beyond.

Less known and celebrated is his work on Palestine in particular, which illustrates the principled commitment to justice on which Michael operated.  As Maria LaHood, Deputy Legal Director at CCR and Palestine Legal Advisory Board Chair, says: 

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Palestine Legal at The Left Forum

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Palestine Legal at The Left Forum

Palestine Legal will appear on two panels at this weekend's left forum. If you're attending the conference, come join us! Details are below. To view the full conference schedule, click here. Hope to see you there!

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Disciplinary Hearing at Brooklyn College Friday

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Disciplinary Hearing at Brooklyn College Friday

Sarah Aly and Thomas DeAngelis, two of the nine students involved in a February 16, “mic check” at Brooklyn College, will appear before a disciplinary committee for a hearing on Friday, May 20, 2016 at 9:30 am at Brooklyn College Student Center, State Lounge.

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