Dear All,

68 researchers and students at D-GESS have circulated and undersigned a letter titled "A peaceful sit-in should not be disrupted" to express their solidarity with the Students for Palestine protests. Please see below for the full text, and consider initiating and supporting similar initiatives in your respective departments to show the ETH administration that the right to protest must be guaranteed!

"

We, a group of researchers and students at D-GESS, express our solidarity with the Students for Palestine protests. The official organizations which represent us are sadly unable to show the much needed support to our fellow students and colleagues. It is our hope that this statement motivates our colleagues at other departments to come forward and take a stance.

The way ETH administration has treated peacefully protesting students on May 7th and for a second time on May 31st, is appalling to us. Their decision to call in the police to disrupt the sit-ins and charge some participants for trespassing not only criminalizes what is fundamental to our democracy but raises concerns about the institution's commitment to fostering an environment of open discourse and civic engagement. We believe that universities must protect and promote freedom of speech above all instead of curbing students’ rights to peacefully express their views. In support of the ongoing efforts by the affected students, we add our voices to their request to drop the charges against them. With the end of this semester, we urge the ETH administration to open further channels of dialogue to resolve the ongoing conflicts so that students are not academically impacted and can feel safe to express their opinions.

"