Statement of Solidarity

EmoryUnite! stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for self-determination and calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine. As of now, the Israeli state has killed over 29,000 Palestinians and destroyed every university in Gaza, constituting a genocide and epistemicide. In addition to journalists, doctors, and aid workers, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have deliberately targeted and killed academics such as Dr. Refaat Alareer, among many others, whose work supports Palestinians. We affirm the rights of Emory university students, faculty, and staff to openly advocate for Palestinian lives, experiences, and knowledge as part of a healthy and safe working environment. We are deeply concerned about the passage of HB 30, a bill that erroneously equates criticism of the Israeli state with anti-Semitism—a misconception upheld by Emory President Fenves last Fall—that may have dangerous consequences for freedom of speech on our campus and in our classrooms. We recognize repression of academic and scholarly speech as a workplace issue that disproportionately threatens the research, careers, and livelihoods of undocumented, international, and BIPOC students, staff, and faculty.

As scholars and workers, we uplift and support Emory Students for Justice in Palestine (ESJP), our Palestinian MD/PhD colleague Umaymah, our co-workers, and our fellow students in their brave and unceasing efforts towards Palestinian liberation. Emory University's failure to address the repeated reports of discrimination, harrassment, and intimidation of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students and their allies is unacceptable, and these incidents create unsafe working conditions at our university. We condemn the online doxxing of Palestinian students, and we call on Emory University to protect and stand with ESJP and all students, faculty, and staff facing anti-Palestinian, anti-Black, and other racist language, attitudes, and actions.

EmoryUnite! supports Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel (BDS) and Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). We call on Emory University to divest from and boycott all weapons manufacturers, commercial interests, and cultural institutions that uphold the state of Israel. We also call on Emory University to cut all ties with Cop City—a project that would deepen ties between the IDF and the Atlanta Police Department through the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange program (GILEE). We invite the Emory community to join our demand for change and to create a campus committed to ending colonialism, occupation, and genocide in all forms.

Further Resources:
Duke Graduate Student Union Statement
Faculty for Justice in Palestine at NYU Statement
Scholars for Social Justice Statement
UAW 2865 Statement
SEIU Statement
Starbucks Workers United Statement
Emory Stop Cop City
This is the Atlanta Way: A Primer on Cop City

Disclaimer: The above statement is made by EmoryUnite!, a labor organization. The opinions expressed in the statement are solely those of EmoryUnite! and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of Emory University.