Israeli academics issue open letter condemning Gaza genocide

 

 

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/06/02/cwpz-j02.html

From Gateway Green Alliance: Green Party of St. Louis, MO -- Ethnic Cleansing in Palestine’s West Bank

 

 

From Gateway Green Alliance:

Green Party of St. Louis, MO

 

Ethnic Cleansing in Palestine’s West Bank

7:30 pm ET, Wednesday, June 4

University City Public Library, 6701 Delmar, St. Louis MO 63130

 

Returning from Masafer Yatta, Bob Suberi (Green Party of St. Louis, Center for Jewish Non-Violence) describes his experience documenting settler and institutional violence over the past 5 years and specifically since Oct. 7. We will also discuss the wider context of Palestinian displacement and disenfranchisement. Steve Tamari (St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee) will provide an historic background of the West Bank. Michael Berg (Jewish Voice for Peace) will cover Zionist support for the ethnic cleansing. Zaki Baruti (Universal African Peoples Organization) will describe global patterns of imperialism.

 

The webinar is NO COST, but you should REGISTER if you plan to attend.

 

Click HERE to register or copy link into your browser: https://bit.ly/WBankPales

(Brief) Review: No Apologies

 

Yesterday I finished reading No Apologies by Katherine Brodsky for an upcoming online discussion by the Prohuman Book Club. As I had read it on my Nook app, when I got to the end I was prompted to write a review, and this is what I submitted.

This book looks at the experiences of a number of people who've stood up to cancel culture over the past several years. This focus on personal narratives likely makes it more relatable for many readers than a more abstract approach would.

The point is made near the end of the book that we need to keep our minds open to all points of view, even those we may find abhorrent. This is commendable, but it may be somewhat undercut by the repeated use of the phrases "the silenced majority" and "the reasonable majority," which wrongly suggest that it's only those with "extreme" views who may be intolerant. In fact, as one of the contributors to another recent book that I highly recommend, Ideological and Political Bias in Psychology, has noted, there's also such a thing as "Left-Right bias," where both ends of the spectrum skew public discourse on a topic in the same direction. In such instances, it's the majority that needs to learn intellectual tolerance and humility.

Rally for SEPTA

A couple hundred people gathered in front of SEPTA's headquarters this morning for a rally to save public transit. A brief video is linked below.

https://fstube.net/w/5mKAtoxrzX9hLGHPAYE9qJ

My Public Comment on Technology Platform Censorship

 

 

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comments on censorship that people have experienced at the hands of technology platforms. In its "Request for Public Comment," it states:

"FTC staff is interested in understanding how consumers have been harmed—including by
potentially unfair or deceptive acts or practices, or potentially unfair methods of competition—
by technology platforms that limit users’ ability to share their ideas or affiliations freely and
openly. FTC staff encourages members of the public, including current and former employees of
technology platforms, to comment on any issues or concerns that are relevant to the FTC’s
consideration of this topic."

You can read the  request for comment in its entirely, including instructions for submitting comments, here: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/P251203CensorshipRFI.pdf

The deadline for submitting comments is 11:59pm ET on May 21, 2025.

The text of my comment follows.

The platform (Meetup.com) deleted my account at the request of another user. This was done in response to my suggestion of a preparatory reading for an upcoming meetup. My de-platforming was not in response to off-platform activities. Meetup.com did not notify me of its actions. When I found I couldn’t log in, I sent an email for an explanation, and was told the opinion I had allegedly expressed by suggesting the reading was not permitted on the platform. No countervailing benefit was claimed for my de-platforming. It was for overtly ideological reasons.

Meetup.com’s terms of service mentioned that certain ideas could not be expressed on the platform. Its action, however, was not in response to my expressing any opinion on my own behalf, but merely my suggestion of including a scholarly paper -- included as a chapter of a book from a major academic publisher -- in the preparatory readings for a meetup. As far as I know there have been no pertinent changes to the terms of service since I posted the suggestion that led to my deplatforming. I don’t know how it has responded to other users who have suggested similar readings.

The representative who responded to my email made clear that no appeal of the decision to delete my account was possible.

The effect of my account’s deletion is that I cannot discuss political and social issues with others who are interested in such discussions, preventing any networking with those interested in the same ideas. Although I have also experienced deletion of accounts with Twitter and Truth Social, I never learned the reasons for these deletions. So far, I have not found an equivalent substitute for the networking I could have done by means of Meetup.com.

I do not know what motivated Meetup.com to act in the way that it did. I do not know whether having more competition would have caused them to act differently, nor whether they have colluded with other platforms in their censorship policy.

My view is that companies that offer their services as communications platforms, especially if they are publicly chartered, should be obligated to uphold users’ First Amendment rights. Any government regulation must be viewpoint-neutral and aimed at ensuring that platforms’ policies are also viewpoint-neutral.

 

Rally for Free Speech Friday

The next Fridays @ Fetterman's will be joining with the ACLUPA in a rally for free speech. Here are the details:

 

Peacemakers, This coming Friday (5.23.25), we will gather outside of Senator Fetterman’s office at 200 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia for our 78th consecutive Friday peace vigil for Gaza. But, this Friday, we will be a vigil in motion as we model and demand free speech in the United States of America. Our F@F contingent will march from Fetterman’s office to the National Constitution Center at 525 Arch Street to rally for free speech and the First Amendment. Meet at Fetterman’s, 200 Chestnut Street in Philly @ 11:15 am   The March to National Constitution Center begins at 11:30 am   F@F Demands Free Speech/Free Mahmoud Khalil Friday, May 23, 2025 @ 12 Noon National Constitution Center 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA National Constitution Center   Stephen Loney, the senior supervising attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania, will be the featured speaker outside of the National Constitution Center. Please note: The ACLU has not take a position on the war on Gaza or U.S. policy toward Israel but is participating in this event solely in its role as a defender of free speech rights.   Stephen Loney, ACLU Attorney

In this Sunday’s edition (5.18.25), The New York Times published an exposé of the Trump administration’s calculated execution of the Heritage Foundation's "Project Esther" plan to crush growing domestic dissent against Israel’s US-funded genocide in Gaza. The movement for peace and freedom in Palestine must unite with other forces defending the First Amendment in the United States…for the survival of our movement…and the survival of our civil liberties.

 

Ariel Durant

Major 20th Century historian Ariel Durant was born on this day in 1898. A Ukrainian-born American researcher and writer, she was the coauthor of The Story of Civilization with her husband, Will Durant. They were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.

A charming video about their romance is linked below.

https://fstube.net/w/dVk6LVyxy3ooNKUWLC15xq

 

Quaker Leader to Speak at People's Tribunal

This announcement comes from Fridays @ Fetterman's:

 

 

Peacemakers, Fridays @ Fetterman’s is excited to announce that Joyce Ajlouny will testify at the Philadelphia People’s Tribunal on War Crimes & Genocide in Gaza. Joyce Ajlouny, AFSC General Secretary   Joyce will participate as an expert witness at the Philly People’s Tribunal that will be conducted on: Saturday, May 31, 2025 Friends Center 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia 19106 She will deliver testimony about her lived experienced supervising and supporting humanitarian aid workers in Gaza and as an international advocate on behalf of fellow Palestinians living in Gaza. Seats for in-person attendance are filling up fast... Register here to attend the Philly People’s Tribunal About Joyce Ajlouny Joyce Ajlouny is a Palestinian American who has served as General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) since 2017. She is a Quaker leader with 30 years of experience in education, international development and relief, and human rights advocacy. Joyce started her career working in international development in Palestine. She served as the country director for Palestine and Israel with Oxfam-Great Britain and also chaired the Association of International Development Agencies. Prior to joining AFSC, Joyce served as the director of the Ramallah Friends School for 13 years. Joyce is a Quaker who is guided by her belief that “there is that of God in everyone.”

About the Philadelphia People’s Tribunal on War Crimes & Genocide in Gaza A team of human rights attorneys representing the people of Philadelphia, PA  will make the case that  the United States Government, the U.S. Executive Branch, the U.S. Congress —Biden-Trump, Blinken-Rubio, Fetterman-McCormick-Casey—are accountable for war crimes & genocide in Gaza. Expert witnesses in International law, US law, and witnessed with on-the-ground lived experience in Gaza will testify at the Tribunal. A jury of Philadelphia community leaders will listen to the testimony, deliberate, and issue their findings regarding the accountability of the US government and its agents for war crimes and genocide in Gaza.

There is LIMITED SEATING to attend the Philly People’s Tribunal in person, so we suggest that you register now if you want to be in the room for this one-of-a-kind educational and citizen empowerment event. Note: You can register for the morning session OR for the afternoon session or to attend for the entire day. Register here. Please help us cover expenses for this important accountability and educational event.   DONATE

 

 

RQ Spring Issue Launch Party

Root Quarterly magazine is coming out with another issue. According to the announcement, the launch party will be adultist parent-friendly until 7:30 pm.

 

 

 

Suspect in custody after arson attack at Shapiro home

"While we wait to learn more, this much is clear: the targeting of a public official and his family — especially a prominent Jewish official on a major Jewish holiday — is unconscionable and has no place in our country,” said former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

The story: https://metrophiladelphia.com/suspected-arson-shapiro-home/

On Primary Election Day, Protesting the Exclusion of Independents

 

I'll be indoors serving as a poll worker, but not far away (Tenth Presbyterian). 

Informational Picket Time!

Independent Pennsylvanians and Ballot PA

 

When:  Tuesday May 20th, 2025 / 8:00 am to 11:00 am

Where: Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia a 18th and Walnut Streets

What: Friendly and fun public demonstration letting the public know that full voting rights for all helps us all.  We hand out informational fliers, offer an opinion survey, hold up signs like “I can’t vote today ask me why” and have conversations with voters on their way to / from voting.

Why: Independents can’t vote in PA’s publicly funded primary, the first round of elections. Let’s make our voice heard to bring PA into the 21^st century.

Voting rights = healthy democracy

More info/Contact: Jenn Bullock paindependends@gmail.com / 215-852-1718 / www.paindependent@gmail.com

Independent Pennsylvanians Statewide Zoom Meeting

 

(click to register)
 

Monday April 14th at 7 pm

Here about exciting plans for 2025

Our monthly statewide meetings are welcoming and friendly discussions, where we explore and strategize how WE can strengthen the power of Pennsylvania's 1.2 million independents & make our election system fair, open and democratic. 
Let's change the culture of how we do and talk about politics



#votingrightsforall  #letallvotersvote  #RepealClosedPrimaries  #peopleoverparties

Sick of our choices?  Concerned about our country? Regardless of how you affiliate politically, support open primaries. We need to fight against voter suppression of any kind. Independents are a plurality of voters in our country but are second class citizens. 

Stripped of Her Vote for a Facebook Post

This news from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression:

Maine's House of Representatives voted along party lines to strip a legislator from her ability to vote on legislation or speak on the House floor.

Why? They disagree with a Facebook post she made criticizing the decision to allow a transgender teenager to compete in a female sport competition.



Just days after Rep. Laurel Libby's post, the Maine House speaker and majority leader demanded she take it down. When she refused, the majority leader introduced a censure resolution to punish her because the post included photos and the first name of the student, who is a minor. (The photo and name were publicly available — including from media outlets.)

Maine's legislators can't make up their own rules as an end-run around the First Amendment. Elected officials are constantly posting photos of minors in sporting events — and when those photos touch on hotly debated public issues, as the photo Rep. Libby posted does — the First Amendment squarely protects them.

When Rep. Libby refused to apologize for her protected speech, the House speaker declared she would be barred from speaking on the floor or voting on any legislation until she capitulated, effectively disenfranchising her constituents.

If political majorities can impose draconian sanctions on political minorities, then no viewpoint is safe.

Members of the majority party could have responded in many ways: Criticize her for her post, make posts of their own, or just ignore it. But they can't strip her of her ability to vote or speak on the floor.

By punishing her, they veered into blatantly unconstitutional viewpoint-based retaliation.

That's why FIRE just filed an amicus brief arguing that a district court should reverse the punishment. Because Rep. Libby's unconstitutional punishment — and the threat it highlights — are an affront to our liberty, no matter our politics.

FIRE

Demand the Release of Mahmoud Khalil

 

First they came for the Palestinians. Speak up now!

“The extent to which this administration is willing to trample on people’s basic rights is scary and should be a worrying sign for all Americans. The detention and possible deportation of a legal permanent resident who has no criminal record is a precedent that can set in motion the brutal targeting of political dissidents in the United States.”

I’m linking below to the petition, as well as to FIRE’s statement on the Trump administration’s assault on the First Amendment.

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/demand-the-immediate-release-of-columbia-student-pro-palestine-advocate-mahmoud-khalil-from-dhs-detention

https://www.thefire.org/news/fire-demands-answers-trump-admin-officials-arrest-mahmoud-khalil

Tomorrow at Penn: You Can't Say That: American Higher Education and the War on Free Speech

Philo at Penn announces:

 

 

Our next Afternoon Professor Tea of the semester will be hosted next Tuesday on February 11th at 3:30 PM in the Philo Halls. Philo will host Dr. Jonathan Zimmerman for a tea and discussion titled "You Can't Say That: American Higher Education and the War on Free Speech." This is part of our 2025 Kojo Minta Memorial Tea Series. 

The Halls are located on the 4th Floor of College Hall. Enter through the East side of the building (closest to Fisher Fine Arts Library) and walk up the stairs to the 3rd Floor. There, a member of Philo will be present to direct you to the Halls. 

Registration is required for this event. Please register as soon as possible using the link below or scan the QR code on the flyer. We are excited to see you there.

Register for Dr. Zimmerman Tea Here

 

Platypus Philadelphia reading group meeting: Lenin and the Vanguard Party

The group is meeting at the same time, day, and place as last week. I didn't have to show Penn ID to be buzzed in.

Platypus Philadelphia
Introduction to Revolutionary Marxism Reading Group

February 8, 2025
1 PM
Houston Hall
Houston Market (basement level with restaurants! Keep an eye out for the Lenin cardboard cutout)
Philadelphia, PA


Week 13. Lenin and the vanguard party | Feb. 8, 2025

• Spartacist League, Lenin and the Vanguard Party (1978)
+ Richard Appignanesi and Oscar Zarate / A&Z, Introducing Lenin and the Russian Revolution / Lenin for Beginners (1977)