A Statement from a number of NGOs’ on US Campus protests The mass killings of over 34,000 people in Gaza, predominantly women and children, along with the blockade imposed by Israel that resulted in the displacement and starvation of over a million Gazans, has sparked widespread demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinian people on university campuses throughout the United States including Columbia University, the University of Texas, and Emory University. These peaceful assemblies and legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression and the students' calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to US military assistance for Israel and university divestment from arms suppliers, have faced harsh crackdowns including mass suspensions, evictions from university housing, and arrests of students, professors, legal observers, and journalists covering these events. Since April 18, more than 700 protesters have been arrested on US campuses, with nearly 200 arrests occurring just on Saturday. The police have used even chemical irritants and tear gas to disperse protests, with officers equipped in riot gear and mounted on horseback forcefully dispersing demonstrations at the University of Texas. There are even videos of officers knocking professors to the ground for just trying to support the students. The use of police force to break up these protests has been criticized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) executive director Afaf Nasher, who argued that the oppressive measures undermines academic freedom. Civil rights advocates and NGOs, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch, have also raised concerns about the mass arrests and their impact on freedom of speech. The right to peaceful assembly enshrined in Article 20 of UDHR and Article 21 of ICCPR guarantees the individuals freedom to express their dissent on government policies. Criticism of the actions or policies of the Israeli government is not anti-Semitic in itself and should not be used as a pretext to shut down such protests. As NGOs devoted to the promotion of Human Rights, it is our duty to demand the lifting of suspension and protection of fundamental freedoms for the US students. The government of the United States should cease its unconditional support of the Israel which according to several UN officials and experts is committing genocide and other international crimes in the besieged Gaza. Signature: - The Europian Alliance of the Solidarity with the Palestinian Detainees
- Center for defence of Liberties
- Jin women association in Lebanon
- Newroz social and cultural association
- The International Commission to Support the Rights of the Palestinian People “Hashd”
- Jordanian Network for Human and people's Rights
- Arab Union for Human Rights
- Together for Human Rights
- Step for Human Rights
- Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture
- Organization for Defending Victims of Violence
- Amman Center for Human Rights Studies
- Bahrain Forum for Human Rights
- The Palastenian Democratic Woman Organization - Nada-
- The International Humanitarian Society for development
- without borders
- Protection des défenseurs des droits de l'homme dans le monde arabe (PADDH)
- Syrian medical committee
- L'institut international pour la paix la justice et les droits de l'homme
- Horan Rencontre Rencontre pour la citoyenneté
- L'observatoire français des droits de l'homme
- Global Network for the Defense of the Palestinian People
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