If you are tired of the Anti-Semitic actions seen on college campuses across this country, please take a minute to read this. As we are all well aware, protests against Israel’s right to defend itself have broke out across the country. In the Boston area alone, numerous universities have seen Pro-Hamas, Anti-America encampments appear. These encampments violate both university polices and local laws, and are hubs of vandalism, violence, and Anti-Semitism. The University of Massachusetts Boston is the next university to fall to these protests, unless we stop it. If you are a student, faculty, or alumni of any of the UMass schools, a friend or family member of a UMass Student, or are live in the are and are fed up with the hatred and propaganda spread by these protestors, please consider signing this petition. 

OUR GOAL

1. DEFEND the Jewish students in the UMass Boston community by  declaring that Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism have NO PLACE on our campus or in the Greater Boston Area
2. PREVENT the UMass Boston USG from passing their resolution to call upon the University to “boycott, divest, and sanction ties to the occupation of Palestine.”
3. PROTECT the rights of all students to have their voices heard in a peaceful and appropriate manner. 
4. STOP the Pro-Palestine protests from expanding to our campus
5. CALL UPON University Leadership to denounce Anti-Semitism on our campus and in the wider community.

OUR STORY

The UMass Boston Undergraduate Student Government (USG) President and Vice President released a statement on 5/1/24 claiming that the police breakups of pro-Hamas protests were in violation of Free Speech. However, when students took to Instagram to comment their disagreement, the USG account disabled comments on the post. This sparked outrage among numerous student groups, including the UMass Boston College Republicans who promptly condemned these actions by USG Leadership.

Furthermore, the USG has proposed a resolution to call for the university to “boycott, divest, and sanction ties to the occupation of Palestine.” This resolution was introduced at the very end of the last in person USG General Assembly, and is set to be voted on next Wednesday, via a non-mandatory Zoom meeting. 

The language of this resolution also calls upon the UMass System to “vacate the charges of our 56 fellow classmates and 1 professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.” When the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) representative was asked if these students were the same ones arrested for assaulting Jewish students and preventing them from attending class, the representative stated that she, “[could] not comment at this time.” 

These actions not only impact Jewish students on campus and in the community, but it sets a dangerous precedent of silencing voices that disagree. This is ultimately an issue of tyranny by the minority.

Time is of the essence - this resolution, which will likely lead to mass protests in support of Hamas on the UMB campus, must be presented to the USG on Wednesday, May 8th. This petition seeks to show the USG that their actions are not representative of the entire UMass Boston student body and wider community. We are asking all who stand in support of Israel and in support of Free Speech to join us in signing this petition. If you are a student, faculty member, alumni, friend, family member, or live in the UMass Boston area, we ask for your support in standing against Anti-Semitism and protecting free speech at UMass Boston.  

THE CONTEXT