Letter of Support for UCSB Divestment
April 9th, 2014University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) students are one again working to pass a resolution to divest from all companies that profit from Israeli occupation and apartheid after their resolution failed in 2013.
Dear Associated Students of the University of California at Santa Barbara,
As a national coalition of more than 400 groups around the country that support freedom, justice and equality for all, we are writing to urge you to vote in support of "A Resolution To Divest From Companies that Profit From Apartheid." Passage of this resolution would honor and continue UCSB’s proud record of divestment from companies that profit from violent, oppressive, and discriminatory practices, including Apartheid in South Africa.
Every day Palestinians suffer ongoing displacement, discrimination, and exile as a consequence of Israel’s abusive policies, which are abetted by companies such as those listed in this resolution. UCSB cannot accomplish its mission to advance the well-being of the world while simultaneously investing in violence.
Campuses have been at the forefront of social justice struggles throughout history, even when doing so was unpopular. We cannot celebrate this legacy and simultaneously shy away from taking a stand on issues of today.
As with all social justice movements, there will be those who oppose your efforts by accusing you of being divisive and pushing for the need to be neutral. The fact is that refusing to divest is in itself a political stance in support of human rights abuses. There is no “not taking a side” in this situation: there is the side of justice and the status quo of injustice. Those working for Palestinian rights are not the ones singling out Israel. It is the U.S. government that singles Israel out by funding its occupation and apartheid with billions of dollars in military aid annually. It is university student governments that single Israel out when they pass resolutions about fossil fuels, the prison industrial complex, and human rights abuses in other countries but decline to take up Israel’s very clearly documented violations of international law.
It is time to stand on the right side of history again by urging your university to divest from all companies unwilling to end their involvement in the brutal and ongoing violation of Palestinians’ basic rights.
After the end of apartheid in South Africa, Nelson Mandela made clear: “The UN took a strong stand against apartheid; and over the years, an international consensus was built, which helped to bring an end to this iniquitous system. But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
In the past student activists played an important role in exposing Apartheid in South Africa. This is the example to follow now to support Palestinian human rights.
Sincerely,
US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, a national coalition working to end all U.S. support for Israeli occupation and apartheid policies towards Palestinians.
Endorsed by: