Stop IDF soldiers from speaking at Pratt institute
The Issue
On Monday, November 9th, the Pratt Jewish Student Union has invited soldiers from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to our campus to "speak and engage" with students. This decision does not sit well with me nor with a substantial part of our community, and here's why.
I have always believed that our educational environments should be spaces of peace, understanding, and constructive dialogue, a safe haven where diverse ideas can be imagined freely without fear or intimidation. However, hosting members of the IDF, an organization directly involved in the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people, goes against all these principles. The IDF has been involved in activities widely condemned as atrocities, including the apartheid system and countless violent confrontations leading to the loss of innocent lives.
Allowing IDF soldiers, representatives of an ongoing military occupation, to speak on our campus is a tacit endorsement of their human rights abuses. It legitimizes their violent actions and allows them to whitewash the grave human rights abuses that continue to this day, obscuring the painful reality faced by millions of Palestinians.
Pratt Institute is a place where students from various backgrounds converge, learn, and grow. Inviting a group that stands contrary to inclusive values sends a disturbing message to current and prospective students about where the institution's principles might lie. This invitation could emotionally and psychologically harm Palestinian and other marginalized students on campus, forcing them to confront representatives of a military body that has perpetuated violence against their communities.
In the name of justice, human rights, and the safety of our student body, we urge the administration to cancel this event and to clarify its commitment to upholding values of peace and human rights over militarism and oppression.
We call upon our fellow students, faculty, and community members to join hands in voicing our concern. It is imperative to act swiftly to ensure Pratt Institute remains a bastion of learning and liberty, free from the shadows of violence and oppression.
Please sign this petition to prevent the IDF from speaking at our campus and to uphold the values of justice, equality, and respect for all people.
1,060
The Issue
On Monday, November 9th, the Pratt Jewish Student Union has invited soldiers from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to our campus to "speak and engage" with students. This decision does not sit well with me nor with a substantial part of our community, and here's why.
I have always believed that our educational environments should be spaces of peace, understanding, and constructive dialogue, a safe haven where diverse ideas can be imagined freely without fear or intimidation. However, hosting members of the IDF, an organization directly involved in the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people, goes against all these principles. The IDF has been involved in activities widely condemned as atrocities, including the apartheid system and countless violent confrontations leading to the loss of innocent lives.
Allowing IDF soldiers, representatives of an ongoing military occupation, to speak on our campus is a tacit endorsement of their human rights abuses. It legitimizes their violent actions and allows them to whitewash the grave human rights abuses that continue to this day, obscuring the painful reality faced by millions of Palestinians.
Pratt Institute is a place where students from various backgrounds converge, learn, and grow. Inviting a group that stands contrary to inclusive values sends a disturbing message to current and prospective students about where the institution's principles might lie. This invitation could emotionally and psychologically harm Palestinian and other marginalized students on campus, forcing them to confront representatives of a military body that has perpetuated violence against their communities.
In the name of justice, human rights, and the safety of our student body, we urge the administration to cancel this event and to clarify its commitment to upholding values of peace and human rights over militarism and oppression.
We call upon our fellow students, faculty, and community members to join hands in voicing our concern. It is imperative to act swiftly to ensure Pratt Institute remains a bastion of learning and liberty, free from the shadows of violence and oppression.
Please sign this petition to prevent the IDF from speaking at our campus and to uphold the values of justice, equality, and respect for all people.
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Petition created on November 5, 2026