We, the undersigned members of the University of Houston's academic community, call on the University of Houston's Student Government Association to VOTE YES on Resolution on Protection and Support for Palestine Activism (Resolution 58002.)  

Palestinians have been subjected to some of the worst iterations of state violence by Israel, from humiliating military check-points, to hyper-incarceration of youth, to the perpetual threat of home demolition and forced expulsion. At a time like now, when over 1500 Palestinians in Silwan face the destruction of their village, critical engagement, discussion, and support for Palestine is crucial. However, college students on campuses across the U.S. are not only discouraged from engaging with Palestine, but face active censorship and harassment by right-wing administrations and campus organizations alike. Therefore, we call on the UH SGA to take three decisive steps towards protecting pro-Palestine activism on campus: 

1. Affirm that speech, action, protest, and campaigns—including the pursuit and support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel—as well as the existence of Palestinian solidarity organizing and other expressions of Palestinian freedom on campus is a protected right at the University of Houston.

2. Unequivocally reject the debasement of Palestinian activism through the false conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism;

3. Call on the UH Administration to issue a public statement affirming the right of students to organize and advocate for Palestine.

In the wake of targeted censorship of pro-Palestine students on campus, we call on our Student Government Association—the official and elected representatives of the University of Houston academic community—to reaffirm your commitment to justice, open expression, and academic freedom. On Wednesday, July 7th, we call on the University of Houston Student Government Association to VOTE YES to the Resolution on Protection and Support for Palestine Activism (Resolution 58002.)