Letter to the Editor | UI must promote social justice | Letters to the Editor

User interface should promote social justice

Growing up in Urbana, the son of a University of Illinois professor, I am deeply troubled to see this institution go so wrong in its movement of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Everyone knows about the genocidal efforts of the state of Israel to eliminate the people who once occupied these lands. But instead of welcoming and supporting efforts to confront the ongoing barbaric massacre, rulers last spring called on police to attack peaceful protesters and then singled out individual participants for arrest and trial.

In addition, over the summer, these same officials drafted cleverly worded rules designed to thwart further exercise of constitutionally protected rights to peacefully assemble on campus grounds. Worse, they set an example that the Champaign City Council followed; For weeks, this parliament has turned a deaf ear to society’s calls for a ceasefire and made modest efforts to prevent investment in companies that profit from the war.

On a more positive note, Urbana residents will have the opportunity to vote “yes” in a November referendum in Cunningham County calling for defunding the Israeli military, whose arsenal is filled with bombs, bullets and missiles supplied and paid for by our own government. billions of dollars worth of statements every year.

Let’s rally around this ballot initiative to drop all charges against our brave neighbors and make our university safe for social justice activism once again.

PETER TITUS

Champagne