On Tuesday September 5th, Registered Student Organizations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will be hosting a radical anti-fascist demonstration on the Main Quad.
The leading organization, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at UIUC shared the event on Friday, September 1st, saying: “There is no room for fascists, white supremacists, or Zionists at UIUC.”
The following day, SJP shared and quoted an article stating, “The confluence of fascism and Zionism is becoming more obvious by the day.” The quoted article appears on the online news platform “Mondoweiss” which has been called out for it’s anti-Semitic language and imagery by countless sources.
The University of Illinois Student Code states that “Registered Organizations and Registered Student Organizations shall not practice discrimination against a member or prospective member on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation…” Furthermore, the Student Code asks students to live up to a series of values, and states: “These values include the freedom to learn, free and open expression within limits that do not interfere with respect for the dignity of others, and personal and institutional openness to constructive change.”
In a trying time in our country, it is important to see students step forward to stand for unity and inclusivity in this nation.
IlliniPAC strongly condemns white supremacy and fascism in every form. Our organization would like to stand in solidarity with our fellow peers but now do not have that ability due to being isolated for how we identify. Our organization promotes an inclusive campus and welcomes students of all faiths, backgrounds, cultures and identities.
The actions of the organizers are in clear violation of these elements of the Student Code and should be treated as such. Anti-Zionism is the new form of anti-Semitism and must be recognized and treated promptly with this in mind.
We call on the administration to take immediate action against the organizations and organizers and reaffirm the University’s commitment to public safety and to the rights of each student.
We share the anger of our fellow Americans over the attack at the Capitol and condemn the assault on our democratic values and process. This violence, and President Trump's incitement of it, is outrageous and must end.
Proud of our very own VP, Ian, for publishing his article as an Op Ed!
“Though these steps will further our shared goals, they alone will not effectively dispel the environment that many Jewish students have felt to be unwelcoming. Thus, our collective and collaborative efforts will not end with these actions.”
