CCR and other organizations calling for human rights and for the rule of law in Palestine and Israel today sent a letter to academic institutions urging them to reaffirm their commitment to free and open campus debate. The plea for free expression, including the right to call for human rights boycotts, was prompted by a series of repressive responses to the American Studies Association’s recent resolution to adopt a boycott against Israeli academic institutions because of their central role in Israel’s violations of Palestinians’ human rights. Official discrimination against particular viewpoints violates longstanding First Amendment free speech rights, and, as affirmed by the Supreme Court, political boycotts constitute protected speech activity.  Faculty is entitled to take public positions, individually and as associations, on matters of public concern.

See here for the full text of the letter.

Signatory organizations are the Center for Constitutional Rights, the National Lawyers Guild, American Muslims for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, the National Students for Justice in Palestine, Palestine Solidarity Legal Support, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, The United States Palestinian Community Network, the Council on American-Islamic Relations – California, and Al Awda-New York.