Dear friends,
Follow-up to the news item I sent on this a few days ago. Here is an action item
Please send a letter to the president of the University of St. Thomas urging him to reverse his decision to bar Archbishop Desmond Tutu from speaking at his university.
The Justice and Peace Studies program at St. Thomas had arranged for Tutu to speak on their campus this coming spring, but the university president, Father Dennis Dease, countermanded that decision and soon after removed the chair of the Justice and Peace program from her position (she has tenure, so she can't be fired).
Archbishop Tutu has been the target of a slanderous campaign against him waged by the extremist group, the Zionist Organization of America because of his outspoken criticism of Israel's harsh measures in its occupation of the Palestinian people. Many Jews agree with his criticism and many who do not still believe he has not only a right to be heard, but that his experience in fighting apartheid makes his an important voice on any social justice issue.
Far from being a favor to Jews, actions like this one increase anti-Semitism because they make it appear as if Jews oppose free speech. More importantly, free speech must be defended and promoted on this issue if Palestinians are ever to be free of occupation and if Israelis are ever to lead normal lives.
Please join me in urging Father Dease to change course by clicking on the link below.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/jvfp/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=14061
Defending the right to speak,
Sam
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