Sanders Offers Resolution to Condemn Bigotry on Campuses and Calls to Protect Students’ Right to Free Speech
Vermont independent denounces Netanyahu government’s violence in Gaza
With politicians and others across the political spectrum condemning nationwide campus protests, Sen Bernie Sanders is offering a Senate resolution that would bring clarity to the issues.
Student protests against Israel’s brutal military campaign in Gaza have often been accused of fomenting antisemitism — especially against Jewish students on campus.
However, the resolution Sanders is introducing simultaneously condemn all forms of bigotry on the nation's college campuses — including antisemitism — while affirming and protecting the students’ right to protest.
The Vermont independent introduced his resolution on the floor of the Senate Tuesday, in response to one offered by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), that he said does not go far enough in protecting students from bigotry, violence, and the violation of their First Amendment right to protest and free speech.
“No to antisemitism. No to Islamophobia. No to all forms of racism and bigotry,” Sanders said in his floor remarks. “And, Mr President, as we do our best to combat racism and all its ugly manifestations, we also must hold our heads high and with pride as we honor the First Amendment to our Constitution — brilliantly developed by the founders of our country.
“And let me simply read what that First Amendment states: ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.’
“That, Mr President, is what a free country is about —the right to disagree with government, and the right to protest,” he added. “And those are rights that every member of Congress should respect, no matter what one’s political views may be.
Protesting injustice is “part of the American tradition,” and has been “fundamental” in the fight to overcome racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination, Sanders said, reminding colleagues of the role protest — including non-violent civil disobedience — played in ending racial segregation and Apartheid in the United States, as well as in ending US involvement in the war in Vietnam.
In terms of the current issues, Sanders affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas.
“But I certainly do not believe, nor do a strong majority of the American people believe, that the right-wing extremist Netanyahu government has the right to wage an unprecedented all-out war against the Palestinian people,” Sanders said. “And what these protests are largely about, and what public opinion polling is showing, is outrage that since October 7, the Netanyahu government has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians and injured more than 78,000, seventy percent of whom are women and children.
“That is over 5 percent of the 2.2 million people living in Gaza.”
Sanders cited public opinion polling that finds some 67 percent of Americans support the United States calling for a ceasefire, and 60 percent oppose sending more weapons to Israel.
“So no, it is not just protestors on college campuses who are upset about U.S. policy with regard to Israel and Gaza,” he said. “Increasingly the American people want an end to U.S. complicity in the humanitarian disaster which is taking place.”
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