This seems important. Anyone know more about the group sponsoring the conference -- allegiances, supporters, endorsers, etc.? --CGE
On Wed, 11 Jul 2001, Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:
> ... Let's get a divestment campaign going:
>
> ***** --- Original Message ---
> From: Amna Arshad <amna_jerusalem at yahoo.com>
> To: msa-net at msa-natl.org
> Date: 6/26/01 7:42:15 AM
>
> Hdate: Tuesday 4 Raby` al-THaany 1422 A.H.
> Number: msa-net/26Jun01/ <message length: 72 lines>
> Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
>
> **** PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY ****
>
> Holding the University Accountable:
> Divesting from Israeli Apartheid
> October 12-14, 2001
> Sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine - UC
> Berkeley
>
> Dear campus activists,
>
> As the situation in Palestine worsens, it becomes increasingly
> important for activists in the United States not only to draw
> attention to the daily atrocities committed by the state of Israel,
> but also to hold institutions in the United States responsible for
> their seemingly limitless supply of support and resources for the
> occupation forces in Palestine. Because of the distances that
> separate our schools, there are too few opportunities to collaborate
> in and develop strategies that we can use collectively.
>
> To this end, the Students for Justice in Palestine at UC Berkeley
> would like to invite you to a conference entitled, "Holding the
> University Accountable: Divesting from Israeli Apartheid," to be held
> October 12-14, 2001 on the UC Berkeley campus. It is our hope that
> this conference will bring together campus activists from across the
> country and facilitate the necessary discussions to develop a
> far-reaching strategy.
>
> Giant institutions with vast resources, colleges and universities
> across the United States invest in several companies with direct
> financial and military ties to the state of Israel. In the 1980s, the
> movement against apartheid in South Africa gained momentum on college
> campuses by drawing attention to similar investments and the role that
> they played in propping up apartheid.
>
> It is our hope that something similar can be accomplished now, in the
> struggle to liberate Palestine.
>
> This conference will serve as a vehicle to facilitate conversation,
> enable educated debate, and formulate concrete strategies to
> contribute to the fight against Israeli apartheid. Activists from
> Berkeley will share their experiences in building a movement for
> divestment at Berkeley, but we invite all suggestions, comments,
> concerns, and ideas in an open discussion about how to move the
> student movement forward in this country.
>
> This is a preliminary announcement. A registration packet and more
> information will soon follow this letter. But in the meantime, if you
> are interested in registering or have questions, please feel free to
> email us at justiceinpalestine at visto.com
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Students for Justice in Palestine - University of
> California at Berkeley *****
>
> Yoshie
>