Across university campuses Students for Justice in Palestine groups, including the newly-formed group at Ohio University, have been organizing to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom from occupation and brutality. These groups have not provided support to Hamas or any Palestinian political group, whether or not they are categorized as terrorist organizations by the United States government. We do, however, live in a country that provides $3 billion in military aid to Israel, the power occupying Palestinian territory and responsible for the majority of the hardships that Palestinians face today, such as the restriction from medical supplies and care.
As would be expected, organizations that oppose U.S. support of Israel, including support of Israel's violation of international humanitarian law, are facing hardships themselves. These include raids on homes, grand jury subpoenas, confiscations of private property; all without charges being filed or reasons given for this harassment of members of Palestinian solidarity groups.
After coordinated raids on Sept. 24, the FBI has issued at least 23 grand jury subpoenas to those suspected of providing material support to terrorist organizations in Palestine. Let us consider what counts as material support in these investigations. Checkbooks, cell phones, personal pictures and even a Palestinian scarf were seized in home raids.
Sarah Smith, a Jewish-American woman, traveled to Israel and Palestine the summer before she and her travel companions were investigated by an FBI agent and ordered before the grand jury. What did Ms. Smith do to provide material support for terrorists? She wanted to see what life was like for Jews and Palestinians.
As American law professor Bernadine Dohrn said in an October 2010 interview with Al Jazeera's Chris Arsenault, If you write articles
is that material support [for terrorists]? If you contribute resources for computers or health care clinics in occupied territories or territories resisting government control is that material support? Is the possession of a Palestinian scarf material support?
With that vague criteria, the United States government is able to target opinions that dissent from its foreign policy. The grand jury subpoenas, raids and general harassment of Palestinian solidarity groups all threaten the First Amendment rights of U.S. citizens. The imposition of penalties on these individuals is a clear attempt to curb free speech of those who wish to stand in support of Palestinians' freedom.
Presumably, in a democratic society, groups and individuals are encouraged to think critically and speak their minds, especially when it concerns justice. Even those who disagree with the political views of Students for Justice in Palestine and similar groups must acknowledge that these impositions on their First Amendment rights are unjust and should be opposed.
All persons interested in the maintenance of a free and open society should join Students for Justice in Palestine in calling for the withdrawal of these subpoenas and the end to all future harassment of American citizens for the political views they hold. We stand in opposition to the grand jury proceedings against those working toward international solidarity. We stand in opposition to the repression of political dissent and we demand that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder discontinue these attacks on our civil liberties.
Ohio University Students for Justice in Palestine
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Opinion
Letter to the Editor
