The U.S. Bill of Rights – Amendment I “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
It seems straightforward, yet why are students facing harassment on university campuses, and why aren’t prominent constitutional lawyers stepping in to help and defend them?
Can it be that the Israeli lobby is so widespread and active in and out of Congress that it curtails any legal help that may be required to remind the Police and Department of Justice that they are treading on the student’s rights? The University’s leaders using the context that there is a safety issue is not plausible as safety must be guaranteed for all students and not just a few. Moreover, I do not perceive that the slogans “from the river to the sea” or “free Palestine” is any form of threat. It is freedom of expression.
Cooler heads need to prevail as history shows that most if not all student protest have led to some form of change. Media houses seem not to want to discuss what may have the reasons for the attack on 10/8. The over 50 years of occupation by Israel, the administrative detentions and the killings of Palestinians by Israeli settlers seems to be forgotten. Instead we are bombarded by atrocities of 10/8, many of which described by the IDF, prove not to be true.
Having friends in Israel, I have been a long supported of that country and am impressed by the people and the marvellous technological successes they have attained. However, I am concerned by Mr Netanyahu’s Government’s position on the fate of the hostages and the desire to flatten Gaza and kill as many Palestinians as possible, including thousands of women and children.
So my question is simply, “Where are the lawyers and the cooler heads?”
