Yesterday at the Arbor, members of UCSB Divest and other pro-divestment supporters from different campus organizations protested the Senate’s decision to strike down a revised divestment resolution during a three-hour meeting Wednesday night.
Protestors lined up in a row, creating a wall-like barrier, with signs describing UCSB Associated Students as “silencers of justice.” The spontaneous event was organized in light of Wednesday’s Senate meeting, during which A.S. Senators voted to permanently dismiss the modified resolution proposing divestment from companies supporting the military occupation of Palestine.
Katlen Abuata, a third-year political science major and UCSB Divest Campaign Organizer attended the protest as a representative from the Human Rights Board. Abuata said participants gathered in order to express their frustration with the Senate’s quick decision and refusal to allow divestment discussion during the forum.
“We’re exhausted and tired of not being heard. A bunch of students are so agitated and so we decided to show people of our agitation,” Abuata said. “I think a lot of students got the point that we are being silenced and that we are actively being silenced. And this isn’t the first time; it is something that occurs very often. All in all, I think it was a positive impact, embodying the truth that Associated Students are not necessarily representative of the student body.”
Abuata said the overarching frustration does not stem from disagreement with the resolution’s revised points but rather with A.S. dismissal of quorum.
“The message is that we are really empowered as students. Even if you don’t agree with the stance that divestment takes, it’s your job as a student, an educator or just as a person from the SB community to sit down and listen,” Abuata said. “We all have a right to be here. We all have paid for our tuition and are actively trying to benefit our community and university as a whole. It’s a shame — they don’t listen because they don’t agree with it.”
Protest participants came from a wide variety of campus organizations, according to Abuata, including members of UCSB Students for Justice in Palestine, students from the first divestment meeting and individuals from the Human Rights Board.
“There are very few Palestinians on campus and people forget that. So we rely on our allies,” Abuata said. “The folks that came out are allies of the community, students who are very politically aware of the problems and human rights violations in Palestine. Basically, this wouldn’t be possible without our allies, whether being students from within or outside of the coalition.”
Abuata said the student body should be critical of news sources and take advantage of resources available on campus.
“Students really need to educate themselves on these issues,” Abuata said. “If they learn about it, it will be very helpful to us all. A lot of students are not aware of what is going on in Palestine … A lot of grassroots news organizations are starting to report on it. I challenge students to take the resources that have been given to them, the opportunities that have been given to them, and actively try to educate themselves on the issue.”
After 25 hours of deliberations both sides had been heard. It’s a divisive issue debated on a global level. The senate voted–respect that decision. You’re not silenced.
Ugh, this is getting very tired. I understand both sides of the argument and the sensitivities involved, but picking sides on this issue isn’t fair to anyone. Honestly, the best decision AS could make is to say, “Okay, you know what? New policy: “We will divest and refuse to do business with anything remotely related to Israel OR Palestine, even if it is related to a charity or humanitarian effort, since no matter what we do someone will be unhappy or nitpick. Now everyone gets nothing.”
That’s unrealistic. As an association who invests into these corporations, not to mention is funded in return for our own academic projects such as in our STEM departments, we would fall apart as a university. Even if the revised form of the resolution removes any economic affiliation with the corporations, there’s still just so much controversy behind it all. This resolution essentially marginalizes 17 percent of the population at this school; do you realize UCSB boasts the largest Jewish population among the UC system? Not to mention, even if we did do anything or not, is this really going to… Read more »
how typical. you’ve been heard, the people have spoken. quite honestly im upset it went this far. the pro-palestinian movement at UCSB is just an incredibly loud and vocal minority. the fact that the divestment resolution was denied is not an indication of you being heard, but a lack of persuasion and merit in the proposal.
generally people ive interacted with who say they are pro-palestinian are the most ill-informed and unintelligent folks on campus. they really only see what they want to see.
Well, finally an honest picture of Palestinians – a person with their mouth taped shut. How refreshing! ……. Feb 13, 2013 In another story the Western media apparently refuses to cover, any Palestinian who dares to criticize Hamas or the Palestinian Authority risks being arrested or summoned for interrogation. Palestinian journalists are now hoping to bring this to the attention of President Barack Obama when he meets with President Mahmoud Abbas next month. The journalists say they want United States and the rest of the world to know that the crackdown on freedom of expression in both the West Bank… Read more »
It is worth noting that the elder Tsarneav brother – the leader of the Boston Marathon attack – was a member of and participant of the Muslim Student Association which is affiliated with SJP.
Is it true one knows someone by the company they keep?
First , go against hamas. not israel.
Some of these people should just join theater, all they want to do is put on performances. At least come up with a good scriptwriter next time.
Are people who support Hamas akin to people who supported the Nazis? Seems to me they are. Nazis destroyed all the Jews of Europe. Hamas never stops talking about destroying Jews. Nazis depicted Jews as beneath contempt just as Hamas does. Nazis blamed Jews for all their problems and so does Hamas. Seems to me the only difference is Hamas does not have the military required to really kill off all the Jews of Israel. If they did have these weapons everyone knows they would use them as indiscriminately as the Nazis did. I wonder what sort of person supports… Read more »
“Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!”
~Isaiah 5:20
Even if it is true that we don’t wanna listen because we don’t agree with divestment, it doesn’t matter. Because guess what, we HAVE heard you. We heard you for TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT. And you’re really gonna bring this divestment issue up again for a third week? in the middle of MIDTERMS?? Shame on you. The senate heard you after two weeks of listening to this bullcrap, and they voted no on it. You’re lucky it didn’t just get tabled indefinitely, it was merely stricken, as in taken off the agenda for the day, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it… Read more »