#ucla divest coalition

[phonemantra-blog]

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus erupted in controversy this week following the dismantling of a pro-Palestine encampment and a violent attack by counter-protesters. This article delves into the events that unfolded, the university's response, and the ongoing questions surrounding the situation. A Week of Tension: Protests, Violence, and Calls for Action The unrest stemmed from a weeks-long pro-Palestine demonstration on campus. Students erected an encampment on April 25th, organized by the UC Divest Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA. This peaceful protest aimed to raise awareness about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and advocate for divestment from companies linked to the Israeli occupation. Unrest at UCLA However, the situation escalated dramatically on Tuesday night. A group of masked counter-protesters, believed to be pro-Israel supporters, stormed the encampment. Violence erupted, with reports of tear gas, projectiles being thrown, and injuries sustained on both sides. The delayed response from law enforcement further fueled criticism. Despite a reported attack lasting for hours, students claim there was minimal police presence initially. This raised concerns about campus safety and the university's ability to protect students during demonstrations. Chancellor Block Responds: Condemnation, Investigation, and Justification Following the chaos, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block addressed the campus community in a letter. He acknowledged the "deep pain" caused by the events and condemned the attack on the encampment as a "horrific attack by a mob of instigators." He assured an ongoing investigation into the incident. However, Block also defended the university's decision to remove the encampment. He argued that it violated campus policies and created unsafe conditions. He explained that attempts at negotiation with protest leaders failed to reach a resolution, necessitating police intervention. Deep Scrutiny and a Call for Transparency Chancellor Block's explanation met with significant scrutiny. Questions arose regarding: The slow response by law enforcement. Critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, deemed the police action "unacceptable" and demanded better protection for students. The cancellation of additional police resources. The Los Angeles Times reported requests for more officers five days before the attack, which were mysteriously revoked. The identity and affiliations of the counter-protesters. Concerns remain about the origin and possible instigation of the violence. In response to these questions, UC President Michael V. Drake announced an independent review of the university's response and law enforcement actions. Chancellor Block also expressed gratitude for the investigation. Unanswered Questions and Continuing Tensions The aftermath of the UCLA campus unrest leaves a trail of unanswered questions and lingering tensions. The independent review will be crucial in shedding light on the following: The decision-making process behind the police response and the cancellation of additional resources. The role of campus leadership in managing the situation. The identities and motivations of the counter-protesters. Transparency and accountability from the university administration are critical to restoring trust and ensuring the safety of all students during future demonstrations. Looking Ahead: Steps Towards Resolution The events at UCLA highlight the complexities surrounding freedom of speech, security concerns, and the right to peaceful protest. Here are potential steps forward: A thorough and transparent independent review. This can help address the unanswered questions and hold those responsible accountable. Improved communication between campus leadership and student groups. Open dialogue can foster understanding and prevent escalation. Enhanced training for campus police on crowd control and de-escalation tactics. This can ensure a more effective and measured response to future protests. UCLA's campus community deserves a safe and inclusive environment for expressing diverse viewpoints. By addressing the shortcomings revealed during this week of unrest, the university can strive for peaceful dialogue and a more productive path forward.

#campussafety #CounterProtest #freedomofspeech #independentreview #policeresponse #proPalestineprotest #UCLA #UnrestatUCLA #Violence

[a3veen]

The US campus protest crisis | First Edition from the Guardian

It’s only student politics, you might say: a collection of undergraduates staging protests on campus, making demands of university administrators, and registering a futile objection to a faraway crisis. Why should anyone else be interested?

But the protests over Israel’s invasion of Gaza that have convulsed Columbia University in New York are becoming harder and harder to dismiss, reminiscent to some of the anti-Vietnam war demonstrations of 1968. They have set off a wave of similar protests across the US, and now even in the UK. They have drawn attention to the extent of US support for Israel, and lent credence to claims that college administrators listen more closely to hostile Republicans than their own students and faculty.

On Tuesday night, police in riot gear arrested 119 people at Columbia, and counter-protesters launched a violent attack on a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles. On Wednesday, police launched operations to dismantle protests in New York, Texas, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Arizona – and a few minutes ago, there were reports that hundreds of police in riot gear were surrounding the UCLA encampment.

All of this suggests that US college campuses are now the site of a major confrontation over free speech and the war in Gaza that is only likely to grow. For today’s newsletter, I spoke to Bassam Khawaja, a human rights lawyer and lecturer at Columbia Law School, about why he supports the protests, what they are seeking to achieve, and how they have escalated to a crisis point. Here are the headlines.

In depth: ‘This escalation didn’t come out of nowhere’

Protests began at universities across the US soon after the Hamas attack of 7 October, and spread as Israel’s invasion of Gaza intensified. Columbia, a potent symbol of the power of student activism thanks to its students’ key role in Vietnam and anti-apartheid protests, was at the centre of the movement from the start.

As early as November, Columbia suspended chapters of two groups, Jewish Voice for Peace and Students For Justice in Palestine, over an unauthorised walkout. Instead of quashing the protest, that action prompted the formation of a coalition of dozens of student organisations, under the CU Apartheid Divest (CUAD) umbrella. Now made up of 100 student-run groups, CUAD has called on the university to sell holdings in companies with significant financial ties to Israel.

It was CUAD that organised a protest encampment earlier this month – and it was the arrest of more than 100 protesters as their tents were cleared two weeks ago that ratcheted tensions up further. Columbia president Minouche Shafik requested the NYPD’s presence, calling the encampment “a clear and present danger”, and in doing so crossed the Rubicon.

“It was essentially students studying in tents,” Bassam Khawaja said. “It’s laughable to say that it was a danger.” Sending in the NYPD two weeks ago was, he said, “certainly an escalation – but it didn’t come out of nowhere. All the way through this, Columbia has chosen to escalate.”

What’s happened at Columbia this week

After the encampment was broken up, some of those who were involved simply started another on the next lawn over. Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, after the university started to suspend students who had refused to leave, a group of about 60 protesters – described by CUAD as an “autonomous subgroup” – moved to occupy Hamilton Hall, an academic building, and barricaded the doors. (New York magazine has an interesting set of pictures from inside the occupation.)

Columbia told the protesters that they would face expulsion, and issued a statement claiming that they were “led by individuals who are not affiliated with the university”; Joe Biden condemned the occupation. Once again, Shafik authorised the NYPD to come in, later highlighting the apparent presence of “outside activists” in a statement released on Wednesday. Police in riot gear marched on the campus and cleared the new encampment.

At least 50 officers used an armoured vehicle with a mechanical ramp to gain access to the second floor of Hamilton Hall. They used so-called “flashbang” grenades to disorient the occupiers, arrested them, and took them away in buses. According to student newspaper the Columbia Spectator, officers “threw a protester down the stairs in front of the building and slammed protesters with barricades”. You can see the location of the occupied building and encampment below.

Here’s how Adam Tooze, the renowned economic historian and Columbia faculty member, described the scene as a police vehicle arrived:

On an order from their commander, the police pushed. They pushed hard. Very hard. They move fast, as quickly as their bulk and equipment would allow, maximizing momentum. The officers use waist-high steel barriers as plows to drive the protestors back and to pin them in side streets and against walls …

The scene was static. But I would not be honest if I did not say that my stomach churned watching it. The sheer force of the movement, the relentless and sudden drive of the steel barrier against human bodies, moved the air.

“People are absolutely furious,” Khawaja said. “The university has now twice called the police on the students who are supposed to be under our care. There is a good reason we don’t bring police on to campus – the NYPD has a history of violence against protesters. The administration knew, or should have known, that they were putting these students at risk.”

What the students want

At Columbia and elsewhere, they want to see a ceasefire and an end to the occupation of Gaza – but more locally, they make the case that their universities should divest from companies with links to Israel.

In this piece, Tooze points out how opaque Columbia’s financial reporting is – but also notes that the publicly known assets in question are worth a few million against a total endowment of almost $15bn. The real point, he argues, is to highlight “the way that a powerful educational institution like Columbia is embedded in networks of power and influence”.

There have also been documented cases of antisemitism. Although most appear to have been linked to protests just off campus by demonstrators unaffiliated with Columbia, some Jewish groups at the university hold the student organisations responsible for fomenting an atmosphere in which such abuse is more likely. Apartheid Divest has condemned and disowned such incidents and called the perpetrators “inflammatory individuals who do not represent us”.

Others have argued that it is unreasonable to tar the entire movement with the comments of a few. “Antisemitism has no place on a college campus,” said Khawaja. “There have been unacceptable incidents. But the idea that this is an antisemitic movement is simply incorrect. We have to have no tolerance for antisemitism, but [we want] to be able to speak up for Palestinian rights.”

How university administrators have handled it

The Columbia encampment began in April – deliberately timed to coincide with Shafik’s trip to Washington. She was there to testify to a Republican-led committee that is keen to point out what it sees as tolerance of antisemitism on campuses – and she would have been keenly aware that the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard have already been forced to resign after their own disastrous evidence sessions.

Shafik was viewed by many at Columbia as having been bulldozed into surrendering any defence of academic freedom. “Her testimony was shameful,” Khawaja said. “She capitulated to very extreme positions from the right, she commented on confidential disciplinary hearings, and she didn’t defend free speech. It created an enormous amount of tension.”

Not every university has responded in the same way: at Brown, for example, an encampment ended after the university governing body agreed to hold a vote later this year on divestment. “We’ve seen other universities deal with this in a much more productive manner,” Khawaja said. “But at Columbia, because there has been escalation at every turn, it is very difficult now to de-escalate.”

How the protests have spread

Police had been called in from Princeton to the University of Utah. In Austin, Texas, governor Greg Abbott sent in state troopers on horseback to disperse a peaceful protest; in Georgia, at Emory University, police used pepper balls, stun guns and rubber bullets, and arrested 28 people. (Read Timothy Pratt’s grim and vivid piece about the fallout there.)

As this email is sent, more than 1,500 people have been arrested on more than 30 campuses across 23 states, while many other schools have seen protests that did not lead to arrests. CNN has an up-to-date map. This Washington Post piece gives a detailed sense of how the movement has spread, and how crucial the confrontation between students and the Columbia authorities has been as a catalyst.

The events of Tuesday night felt like a crucible of how intense the confrontations have become – and how they may continue to escalate. Not far from Columbia, at City College of New York in Harlem, 173 people were arrested. At UCLA, fights broke out after a large group of counter-protesters attacked an encampment there (above), launching fireworks into the camp and throwing wood and a metal barrier at those inside it. Dani Anguiano reports that protesters and journalists on the scene said that police looked on for hours before intervening.

“On the one hand, the students have been quite uncomfortable at generating so much media attention – they want the focus to be on Gaza, while doing what they can within their own institutions,” Khawaja said. “But this is a country with a long history of college protests that have shifted the course of our history – and they know that history.”

Archie Bland

#maatschappij

[sciencespies]

Earth is 'unequivocally' in midst of climate emergency, scientists say

https://sciencespies.com/nature/earth-is-unequivocally-in-midst-of-climate-emergency-scientists-say/

Earth is 'unequivocally' in midst of climate emergency, scientists say

An international coalition of researchers says in a report published today that the Earth’s vital signs have worsened to the point that “humanity is unequivocally facing a climate emergency.”

The report, “World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency 2022,” published in the journal BioScience, notes that 16 of 35 planetary vital signs the authors use to track climate change are at record extremes.

The report’s authors share new data illustrating increasing frequency of extreme heat events, rising global tree cover loss because of fires, and a greater prevalence of the mosquito-borne dengue virus.

They also note large increases in fossil fuel energy consumption following COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns — despite an upswing in commitments for fossil fuel divestment — and a rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to 418 parts per million, the highest on record.

William Ripple, a distinguished professor in the OSU College of Forestry, and postdoctoral researcher Christopher Wolf are the lead authors of the report, and 10 other U.S. and global scientists are co-authors. The report follows by five years the “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice” published by Ripple in in BioScience and co-signed by more than 15,000 scientists in 184 countries.

“As we can see by the annual surges in climate disasters, we are now in the midst of a major climate crisis, with far worse to come if we keep doing things the way we’ve been doing them,” Wolf said. “We implore our fellow scientists to join us in advocating for research-based approaches to climate and environmental decision-making.”

Other co-authors of the report are from UCLA, the University of Sydney, Independent University Bangladesh, the University of Cambridge, the University of Exeter, Bezos Earth Fund and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

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“Climate change is not a standalone issue,” said Saleemul Huq of Independent University Bangladesh. “It is part of a larger systemic problem of ecological overshoot where human demand is exceeding the regenerative capacity of the biosphere. To avoid more untold human suffering, we need to protect nature, eliminate most fossil fuel emissions and support socially just climate adaptations with a focus on low-income areas that are most vulnerable.”

The report points out that in the three decades since more than 1,700 scientists signed the original “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity” in 1992, global greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 40%.

“As Earth’s temperatures are creeping up, the frequency or magnitude of some types of climate disasters may actually be leaping up,” said the University of Sydney’s Thomas Newsome. “We urge our fellow scientists around the world to speak out on climate change.”

In addition to Wolf and Ripple, three other OSU scientists are co-authors of the paper: Jillian Gregg, Matthew Betts and Beverly Law.

“World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency 2022” is an update of a paper published in BioScience three years ago. The Alliance of World Scientists, an independent organization formed to be a collective voice on environmental sustainability and human well-being, continues to collect co-signers on the 2019 paper. To date more than 14,000 scientists from 158 countries have signed.

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Ongoing work to spur climate change action by scientists around the world is chronicled in a new 35-minute documentary film “The Scientist’s Warning.” The film, by Oregon State Productions, is now available for free online viewing (see: https://scientistswarning.forestry.oregonstate.edu/) following its Oct. 14 premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival in Newport Beach, California.

“The Scientist’s Warning” also chronicles Ripple’s personal journey: from a rural, low-income childhood in South Dakota in the 1950s to becoming an ecologist in Yellowstone to assuming a role as a global advocate for using science to make informed policy decisions.

“Look at all of these fires, floods and massive storms,” Ripple said. “The specter of climate change is at the door and pounding hard.”

Oregon State Productions makes films as part of the university’s mission to educate the public about critical issues facing our planet and highlight those working to make a difference. Its portfolio includes the feature-length documentary “Saving Atlantis,” which tells the story of the world’s declining coral reefs and some of the people working to save them.

#Nature

#10-2022 Science News #2022 Science News #acts of science #Earth Environment #earth science #Environment and Nature #everyday items #Nature Science #New #News Science Spies #October 2022 Science News #Our Nature #planetary science #production line #sci_evergreen1 #Science #Science Channel #science documentary #Science News #Science Spies #Science Spies News #Space Physics & Nature #Space Science #Nature

[fuckyeahmarxismleninism]

Los Angeles: Human Rights Day March & Rally 

Tuesday, December 10 - 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Gather at Consulate General of El Salvador, 3450 Wilshire Blvd Suite 250, Los Angeles

On December 10th, progressive organizations in Southern CA will host a march and rally in commemoration of International Human Rights Day to highlight the struggles of migrants, refugees, indigenous people, and displaced communities impacted by state violence and war.  The U.S. currently spends $717 billion on military defense and only $60 billion on education.  We are coming together to build a movement to Resist US-led War & Militarism and we want to invite you to participate in this year’s activity. Our Demands* - End U.S. Militarism at home and abroad! - Defund DHS (US Department of Homeland Security)! - Divest from Boeing and other military contractors​​​​​​​! - Stop military recruitment of students and youth! - Redirect funds for housing, jobs, and education! What:  Human Rights Day March & Rally When: December 10th, 2019 - Tuesday at 6:00PM starting at Consulate of El Salvador marching with a few stops.  Total Distance is about 1 mile. To get involved, please contact us as soon as possible and fill out this form https://tinyurl.com/D10-2019.   For more info:  www.resistusledwarmovement.com #HumanRightsDayLA  #ResistUSledWar  #BuildJustPeace Co-sponsored by: AIM SoCal - American Indian Movement SoCal BAYAN USA-Southern CA BORDER ANGELS CISPES- Los Angeles Chapter - Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador Human Rights Alliance for Child Refugees & Families Guatemaya LA Mujeres Resistiendo International Migrants Alliance - IMA in Southern CA Me Too Survivors' March International   Occupy Ice L.A. Party for Socialism and Liberation - PSL LA PUSO SoCal - Philippine US Solidarity Organization Struggle - La Lucha for Socialism Unión del Barrio Los Angeles We Are All America Endorsed by: CODEPINK: Women For Peace (Los Angeles) Colectivo Guatemalteco IDEPSCA Gabriela Los Angeles Long Beach Area Peace Network Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition Migrante USA-Los Angeles National Lawyers Guild Los Angeles @Progressive Asian Network for Action Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) - UCLA Student Labor Advocacy Project of UCLA Unión Centroamericana - UNICA de UCLA _______________ Día de los Derechos Humanos Marcha y Rally (Titular principal) Resistir el movimiento de guerra liderado por Estados Unidos (subtítulo) 10 de diciembre, 6 p.m. Frente al Consulado de El Salvador 3250 Wilshire Blvd., Los Ángeles Únase a nosotros para conmemorar el Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos para levantar la lucha y la resistencia de los migrantes, refugiados, pueblos indígenas y comunidades desplazadas afectadas por la violencia y la guerra. Estados Unidos actualmente gasta $717 mil millones en defensa militar y solo $ 60 mil millones en educación. Nuestras demandas Desfinanciar el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional  (DHS)! ¡Fin al militarismo estadounidense en el país y en el extranjero! ¡Alto al reclutamiento militar de estudiantes y jóvenes! ¡Desinvierta de Boeing y otros contratistas militares! Redireccionar fondos para vivienda, trabajo y educación! Para más información: www.resistusledwarmovement.com

[phonemantra-blog]

This article explores the recent events at UCLA involving a pro-Palestine encampment, a violent attack by counter-protesters, and the university's response that has sparked controversy. Uprising on Campus: Pro-Palestine Encampment Erected On April 25th, 2024, the UC Divest Coalition and Students for Justice in Palestine at UCLA established a pro-Palestine encampment on Dickson Plaza. This action aimed to raise awareness about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The encampment remained peaceful for several days, with student protestors gathering and expressing their views. UCLA in Turmoil Violent Attack Rocks UCLA: Questions Surround Police Response The situation escalated dramatically on Tuesday night, May 1st, when a group of masked counter-protesters, reportedly affiliated with pro-Israel factions, stormed the encampment. Witnesses described the attack as "horrific," with the masked group wielding tear gas, throwing objects, and attempting to dismantle the encampment. Here, a crucial question emerges: Why did the police response appear delayed? Students within the encampment reported minimal to no response from law enforcement for several hours. This delayed response has drawn significant criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, student groups, and faculty members. Governor Newsom's representative called the police action "unacceptable" and emphasized the right to free speech does not justify violence. University Leadership Vows Investigation, Offers Explanation UCLA Chancellor Gene Block addressed the campus community through a letter acknowledging the "deep pain" caused by these events. He condemned the attack as a "mob action" and promised a thorough investigation. Chancellor Block further explained the university's approach to student protests. He justified the removal of the encampment due to safety concerns and its violation of university policies. However, this explanation hasn't quelled the criticism surrounding the perceived lack of protection for the pro-Palestine students during the attack. Independent Review Announced, Scrutiny Intensifies University of California President Michael V. Drake announced an independent review of the university's actions and the law enforcement response. This review aims to provide a transparent account of the events and identify areas for improvement. Meanwhile, scrutiny continues to mount. Questions remain regarding the identity of the masked attackers, the delayed police intervention, and the university's overall handling of the situation. Aftermath: Healing, Calls for Change The aftermath of this incident at UCLA is complex. The campus community grapples with the trauma of the attack, while calls for reform in university policies and improved response to student protests rise. Healing and reconciliation efforts will be crucial in the coming days and weeks. However, significant questions regarding university leadership, security protocols, and student safety remain to be addressed.

#attackonencampment #ChancellorGeneBlock #freedomofspeech #GovernorGavinNewsom #independentreview #policeresponse #proPalestineprotest #StudentsforJusticeinPalestine #UCDivest #UCLA #UCLAinTurmoil