FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Los Angeles, CA -- September 26th, 2019) -- StandWithUs has launched a campaign calling out National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) for spreading antisemitism, supporting violence, and violating free speech. This builds on a similar effort in 2018.
The campaign features a petition against the National SJP Conference at University of Minnesota (UMN), being held November 1-3; social media content educating the public about SJP's extremism, and more. Each signature on the petition triggers an email to the UMN administration, calling on them to condemn the conference and stand up to hate.
"We are standing up for free speech, academic freedom, diversity, and inclusion on campus," said Roz Rothstein, CEO of StandWithUs. "National SJP targets Jewish students simply for supporting Israel's existence, and seeks to isolate and eliminate the world's only Jewish state. University administrations should denounce SJP's hate and prevent its chapters from violating student rights."
StandWithUs Director of Digital Strategy Paul Gorbulski said, "last year we used social media to educate over 800,000 people about SJP. We're looking forward to empowering our many followers to stand up to their hateful agenda once again."
"If you oppose discrimination and support academic freedom on campus, I encourage you to sign the petition and educate your peers about this issue," said Rena Nasar, Executive Director of Campus Affairs at StandWithUs. "SJP must be held accountable for their extremism and hate."
National SJP is an organization with dozens of chapters and affiliates across North America, a support network of off-campus hate groups, and a long record of spreading antisemitism, supporting violence, and violating free speech.
In its 2018 national conference “themes & goals,” National SJP openly called for the destruction of Zionism and supported efforts to silence speakers who believe in Israel’s right to exist. Participants chanted in support of an "Intifada," creating a hostile climate for Jewish and Israeli students - particularly those who lost friends and family during the brutal suicide bombings of the 2nd Intifada. Numerous SJP chapters have expressed similar support for violence.
The group also receives funding and other forms of support from NGOs that are tied to multiple designated terror organizations, including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). National SJP conferences have featured lectures from terrorists like Khader Adnan, an Islamic Jihad leader who called for suicide bombings against Israeli civilians. SJP also spearheaded a campaign to glorify and raise money for Rasmea Odeh, who helped carry out a PFLP terrorist attack which killed two Israeli civilians. Some activists affiliated with SJP have even threatened violence against Jewish students and others who believe in Israel’s right to exist. Moreover, SJP members frequently shout down speakers they disagree with, resulting in numerous criminal and university investigations into violations of free speech and illegal activity.
Lastly, SJP spreads hate against Jews and Israelis on campus on a far too regular basis. Much of their rhetoric falls under the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which has been adopted by the EU, US Department of Education, and the Government of Canada. This includes denying Israel’s right to exist, demonizing Israelis, and attacking Israel using classic antisemitic tropes. SJP’s political agenda – to eliminate Israel and strip away Jewish rights to self-determination – is a prime example of the new antisemitism.
About StandWithUs
StandWithUs (SWU) is an eighteen year-old, international, non-profit and non-partisan Israel education organization that works to inspire and educate people of all ages about Israel, as well as challenge misinformation and fight against antisemitism.
Through university fellowships, high school internships, middle school curricula, conferences, materials, social media, educational films and missions to Israel, StandWithUs supports people around the world who want to educate their schools and communities about Israel.
Based in Los Angeles, the organization has 18 chapters and offices throughout the U.S., in Israel, the UK, Canada and Brazil.
For the last 6 years, SWU has consistently received the highest ratings from Charity Navigator (4 stars) and Guidestar (Platinum)
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