5 March 2013

The CfP South Africa supports the divestment bill at Stanford University

The Coalition for a Free Palestine (CfP) supports the Students for Palestinian Equal Rights bill for selective divestment by Stanford University. The bill which will be voted on by the undergraduate senate represents an important step in the global campaign for justice and equality for the Palestinian people.

Stanford University has an illustrious history of mobilising against apartheid. In 1977, after sit-ins and actions by students, the university adopted a South Africa- related ethical investment policy. In 1985, Stanford adopted a selected divestment policy towards apartheid South Africa. International solidarity was one of the pillars of the South African struggle and it is through the principled decision by this university and hundreds like it, that South Africa is free today.

The recent decision to create separate bus lines for Palestinians is a microcosm of the larger injustices Palestinians face on a daily basis. Unequal access to land, water, education and a discriminatory legal system are horrifyingly reminiscent of the apartheid regime in South Africa.

The African National Congress (ANC) which called for a global boycott of apartheid South Africa has called for the South African people to support campaigns which “seek to put pressure on Israel to engage with the Palestinian people to reach a just solution”. We have confidence that Stanford University will remain principled in its stance to oppose apartheid and injustice, one again, by adopting this bill.

*The Coalition for a Free Palestine is the largest South African Palestine solidarity umbrella body, which includes youth groups, trade unions, human rights organizations, faith based groups, artists collectives, student organizations and political parties. Some member organizations include the South African Council of Churches, Congress of South African Trade Unions, African National Congress, South African Communist Party, Muslim Judicial Council, Muslim Students Association, Palestine Solidarity Alliance, Palestine Solidarity Committee, Palestine Solidarity Group, Media Review Network, Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions in SA , StopTheJNF South Africa, Open Shuhadah Street and the student society.

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For further details contact Tahir Sema on 082 9403 403 or tsema@cfpsa.co.za 

Or Tehillah Niselow on 072 252 6054 or tniselow@cfpsa.co.za