uffufpresident

UFF-UF statement in strong support of Student Freedom of Expression, ceasefire in Palestine and Israel, a complete arms embargo, and disclosure and divestment from killing and violence.

At its April 2024 council meeting, UFF-UF formally adopted the Palestine-Israel ceasefire resolutions by affiliated unions National Education Association / American Federation of Teachers / AFL-CIO.  

In addition, UFF-UF strongly supports the following:

****

ACLU Florida Statement on freedom of expression on campuses (April 26,2024)

https://www.aclufl.org/en/press-releases/aclu-florida-statement-pro-palestinian-protests-state-university-campuses

MIAMI, FL – Over the past week, university campuses across the country have held pro-Palestinian demonstrations in protest of the Gaza war. Some of these pro-Palestine student protesters and allies present at the protests have been met with police presence, arrests, and excessive use of force, including professors. 

In response, public universities in Florida have joined in the wave of student protests in solidarity. While most demonstrations in the state have faced less police involvement, state leadership and some public universities have failed to support students’ right to protest. Gov. Ron DeSantis has stated that pro-Palestinian student protesters should be expelled from their universities and that those who are international students should have their visas canceled. The University of Florida (UF) is threatening students with suspension and banishment from campus for three years. 

Howard Simon, interim executive director of the ACLU of Florida, stated the following: 

“As students demonstrate on campuses across Florida, we remind school administrators that freedom of expression is a cornerstone of education in a democracy. The freedom to share diverse views and spark robust debate about political issues is essential to democracy— especially in times of national and global crisis. Colleges and universities should be places where ideas are exchanged freely, debate is encouraged, and peaceful protest is protected. 

“Public universities should not be raising the consequences of student protest because it is politically expedient. Public universities should not be raising the consequences of student protest because it is politically expedient. Sudden and harsh punishment, whether it be suspension or banishment, should not apply to this protest movement because that message is unpopular with university officials and political leaders.

“The experience of our country’s universities during the McCarthy era makes clear that efforts to silence speech on campus destroy the foundation on which academic communities, and our democracy, are built. We urge campus administrators and law enforcement to exercise restraint in interfering with student demonstrations and encampments and remain firm in their commitment to free speech, open debate, and peaceful dissent on campus. The principles on which this country was founded demand no less.

“Gov. DeSantis’ response – that students should be expelled for peacefully protesting – is contrary to our First Amendment principles of free speech and expression. There is nothing more American than protest. No student should face expulsion from their university or this country for exercising their rights. 

“We are closely watching the current protests on college campuses across the state. The freedom to protest without retribution is essential to our democracy. Government censorship is not the answer.” 

****

AFT ceasefire resolution text:

https://www.aft.org/about/resolutions

Calling for a Bilateral Cease-Fire in Gaza and Promoting a Two-State Solution and an End to the Weaponization of Hate

The war in Gaza must end, and diplomacy that creates two states for two peoples must start. Far too many Palestinians and Israelis have perished, and far too many Palestinians and Israelis have had their lives shattered and destroyed. As educators, healthcare professionals and public service professionals, we are sick at heart over the toll this war has taken on thousands of innocent people, particularly innocent children.

We have long recognized the right of Israel to protect its citizens against crimes of war and aggression. The horrific slaughter of Israeli civilians perpetrated by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and others on Oct. 7 was the largest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. To this day, Israeli civilians taken as hostages on Oct. 7 are still in captivity in Gaza.

The ongoing war in Gaza—its terrible toll of tens of thousands of civilian Palestinian deaths and its widespread destruction—has created a humanitarian tragedy that must end.

Further shedding of blood in Gaza and the infliction of more pain and anguish will not bring peace and security to either Palestinians or Israelis. Cycles of violence and retribution in Israel and the Palestinian territories for the better part of a century cannot be broken with more of the same. Moreover, there is real danger of the expansion of the current war in Gaza to other nations in the Middle East and beyond.

For all these reasons and more, the American Federation of Teachers supports a negotiated bilateral cease-fire, agreed to by both sides in this war and guaranteed by the international community. A cease-fire agreement must include humanitarian aid for the immediate provision of desperately needed food, water, medical care, clothing and emergency shelter to Palestinians and the release of all hostages taken on Oct. 7.

The AFT reaffirms its support for a two-state solution, with true self-determination for the people of Israel and the people of Palestine. Both peoples have deep roots in that land and the right to live there in peace and with freedom. A bilateral cease-fire is necessary to start the process of negotiating a lasting agreement that ends the decades of conflict and bloodshed by recognizing the rights of both peoples and providing each with its own government—two states for two peoples.

The Palestinian people of Gaza have suffered under the dictatorial rule of Hamas, which has brutally repressed and eliminated its Palestinian opponents. Hamas declares its intent to destroy the state of Israel and has a massive terrorist infrastructure. Hamas is not a partner for peace, security or a two-state solution; that is why the peace initiative organized by Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states does not include Hamas in its proposals for the future governance of Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government are a major obstacle to achieving lasting peace, freedom and security. He has opposed a two-state solution while enabling numerous illegal settlements on the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu’s government has stood idle in the face of violence and land theft that extremist settlers have waged against Palestinians in these territories. Netanyahu has an interest in prolonging the war to escape the public scrutiny of his colossal failure to protect Israeli citizens, and to escape his ongoing trials. Despite the Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling against his effort to override that very court, he continues to undermine Israel’s democracy. It is time for another election in Israel so that Israelis can elect leaders who truly believe in democracy, security and a peace process.

We support those forces in Israel and in Palestine that seek a different future for themselves—a democratic future where Israelis and Palestinians both can live in dignity and with self-determination and security for all.

Meanwhile, the war has also unleashed a wave of hate and incitement to violence in the United States, with appalling demonstrations of antisemitism and Islamophobia. The AFT reiterates our long-standing and uncompromising opposition to antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of hate and incitement to violence. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring our work and teaching environments are safe and welcoming for the people we represent and those we serve, and to promoting a democratic education that builds understanding and mutual acceptance across different religions, races and ethnic groups. Whatever one’s view of the war and the issues raised by it, there is no justification for using it to spread hate and intolerance.

The weaponization of incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia in campaigns to censor dissenting views of the war and the underlying conflict between Israel and Palestine is also deeply disturbing. These campaigns are particularly troubling in education, where they strike at the heart of the freedom to have unfettered, intellectually honest and respectful discussion and to freely debate ideas, even controversial ideas. That is the hallmark of both American education and American democracy. We will defend the rights of educators and their students to participate in intellectually honest discussions, to articulate and rally around their views, including the underlying conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Moreover, we will not tolerate the weaponization of academic discourse to be used in political attacks on American colleges and universities, and as a pretext for attacks on efforts to increase diversity, promote equity and advance inclusion.

Our campuses must be places of dialogue for the furtherance of understanding in a pluralistic society. Teachers and students must be free to express different views on the burning issues of the day, without fear of loss of position and retaliation, and without intimidation and threats of violence.

As a union deeply committed to teaching, to healthcare and to defending democracy, we pledge to continue our advocacy for democracy at home and abroad, as we support the principles of dignity and freedom for all.

(2024)

Please note that a newer resolution, or portion of a resolution, may have superseded an earlier resolution on the same subject. As a result, with the exception of resolutions adopted at our most recent AFT convention, resolutions do not necessarily reflect current AFT policies.

****

NEA ceasefire resolution text:

https://www.nea.org/resource-library/motion-reaffirm-neas-call-ceasefire-between-israel-and-hamas

This call to action reads as follows: 

The Board of Directors of the National Education Associationreaffirms NEA’s calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the release of hostages, as well as immediate and full humanitarian aid to Gaza. Further, we believe NEA must expand its efforts to influence U.S. officials and international leaders to join us in our call by convening and working with other U.S. international labor leaders, as well as civil rights, faith and progressive organizations, and Jewish and Arab leaders, to draw upon our greater collective power and help influence an end to this conflict and humanitarian crisis. NEA shall encourage members to take action at NEA’s Action Center to lobby elected officials in Congress and advocate our support for a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, provide increased U.S. and international aid that effectively meets the scale of the humanitarian crisis for those in Gaza and those displaced from Gaza as a result of this war, a release of Israeli, American, and other hostages, and diplomacy measures that support a two-state solution where both Israelis and Palestinians can each have safe places to call home. Finally, NEA shall also continue to work with and through Education International as we advocate for short and long-range solutions that could bring lasting peace, secure homelands, and quality education to the children of Palestine and Israel. 

More information and resources can be found at www.nea.org/international

****

AFL CIO Ceasefire resolution text

(Washington, D.C., Feb. 8, 2024)—“The AFL-CIO condemns the attacks by Hamas on October 7th and calls for a negotiated cease-fire in Gaza—including the immediate release of all hostages and provision of desperately needed shelter, food, medicine and other humanitarian assistance to Gazans—and reaffirms our support of a two-state solution for long-term peace and security.”