Statement in Support of Student Movement

I stand in solidarity with those peacefully protesting at campuses across the nation and reject the use of force to silence peaceful protest. As repressive tactics by university administrations continue to escalate, I felt it was important to voice my support and solidarity with this growing student movement.

In six months, the Israeli government— with support, weapons, and funding from the United States— has killed over 34,000 Palestinians while destroying homes, hospitals, and schools and starving Palestinians by blocking humanitarian aid. Students have every right to assemble and demand an end to these ongoing atrocities, and to protest their universities’ financial investments in war, apartheid, and occupation. We should be celebrating these students who are peacefully protesting, not arresting them.

I unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and any other forms of bigotry and hate. The crackdown on student protest that we have witnessed in recent weeks, however, is not about preventing anti-Semitism nor is it about protecting Jewish students – many of whom are themselves among the protesters. It is about an attack on basic principles of democracy, on the autonomy of universities, and on freedom of speech. Criticizing the Israeli government, the occupation, or apartheid conditions, is not anti-Semitism. Nor is calling for the liberation of the Palestinian people. Conflating such protest with anti-Semitism is extremely dangerous, especially for Jews, as it blurs otherwise clear lines and allows those engaged in actual anti-Semitic behavior to escape notice and accountability.

I am deeply disappointed to see the leadership of so many universities cave into pressure from right-wing actors that don’t care at all about the university as an institution, about free speech, or about the well-being of students. Calling on police to arrest Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, Black and brown students, along with Jewish allies, for nonviolent, nondisruptive political action is inexcusable. There is a better way. Many universities are responding to student encampments by engaging and negotiating with protesters, not sending in armed officers to repress them — a choice I hope they will continue to make and that other university administrations will follow.

Democratic rights and institutions are under attack from the US to Israel/Palestine and beyond. Ordinary people – students, faculty, and community members – are showing immense courage in defending their rights and even modeling what a braver, better society could look like. The nationwide wave of repression we have seen in just the last week – college administrators normalizing the use of police in riot gear and even police snipers to confront students peacefully protesting on their own campuses — is exactly what the right-wing in this country wants to see. We must stand firm in opposition to these tactics, in defense of human rights, and for peace.

I am inspired by the solidarity being displayed on campuses nationwide. As an elected official, the son of a Holocaust survivor, a longtime human rights advocate, and the author of San Francisco’s ceasefire resolution, I’m proud of these students who are putting themselves on the line to peacefully protest on campuses across our nation.