York Federation of Students commits to mobilize protests against Israeli speakers

, , Comments Off on York Federation of Students commits to mobilize protests against Israeli speakers

Protest at York University

At its Annual General Meeting on November 28, 2019 the York Federation of Students (YFS) passed a an anti-Israel motion:

WHEREAS at the November 20 rally, where both Jewish and non-Jewish Students were protesting the actions of the Israeli state; members of the Jewish Defense League (JDL), a far-right organization, were present resulting in the assault of a number of students who were peacefully demonstrating; and

WHEREAS student unions have historically played a decisive role in leading anti-war and anti-imperialist movements in Canada and have a duty to oppose Imperialism here at home

BE IT RESOLVED THAT if representatives of the Israeli state or any other imperialist power are invited to gather support for war and occupation in Palestine and elsewhere, the York Federation of Students must organize mass mobilizations of students, workers, marginalized communities in opposition, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the YFS provides material support for student activist groups fighting against imperialist propaganda by providing resources and using their multi-million dollar apparatus to lead the organizing effort; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the YFS defend the right of students to speak freely and organize against the far-right, war, and imperialism on campus by defending students from repression by the administration or state forces.

A portion of the motion was first published by Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC).

Related article: Pro-Palestinian protest at York University: “Viva, Viva Intifada” against Israel