The university’s statement, released to the public on Friday, addressed the “serious and ongoing harms caused by [the groups’] statement,” which declares “solidarity with the Palestinian people” against “the settler-colonial apartheid state of so-called Israel.”

“Since 1948, Palestinian people have been systemically displaced from their land and homes as a result of state-sanctioned violence, siege, and genocide,” reads the Oct. 12 statement in part. “Our Unions remain unwavering in our support of the Palestinian people’s fight for self-determination and liberation.”

Furthermore, the student-funded groups lashed out at Israel for its air strikes on Gaza, saying they came in response to “Palestinian resistance.”

In its statement, York University said the unions must retract the statement, issue an apology, acknowledge the impact of the statement on campus, and remove all union executives by 5 p.m. on Oct. 25.

  • OutlierBlue
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    9 months ago

    I just read it. I’ll paste it below. There’s nothing in there I disagree with.

    Statement of Solidarity with Palestine

    Content warning: The following statement has content on genocide and ongoing violence in Palestine.

    We the undersigned Unions present at York University reaffirm our solidarity with the Palestinian people, within Palestine and the global diaspora, and their ongoing fight against settler-colonialism, apartheid, and genocide. We vehemently condemn all forms of colonial violence and support Indigenous sovereignty.

    Recently, in a strong act of resistance, the Palestinian people tore down and crossed the illegitimate border fence erected by the settler-colonial apartheid state of so-called Israel. These resistance efforts are a direct response to the ongoing and violent occupation of Palestine. Since 1948, Palestinian people have been systemically displaced from their land and homes as a result of state-sanctioned violence, siege, and genocide.

    In response to Palestinian resistance, so-called Israel has continued to escalate attacks on Gaza by bombing residential neighborhoods, deploying white phosphorus bombs and cutting off access to food, water, power and medical supplies. These tactics are not new. So-called Israel has continually restricted Palestinians movement to & from Gaza, creating an open-air prison and obstructing access to essential resources within the apartheid fence for decades. From Turtle Island to Palestine, and across all occupied lands, these events serve as a reminder that resistance against colonial violence is justified and necessary. This is “decolonization” and “land-back” actualized as we continue to see the Palestinian people stand firm in their resistance against their oppressors.

    We are witnessing clearly how the mainstream media utilizes strategic rhetoric which erases the decades old violence Palestinians have faced and the intentional subversion of responsibility for these atrocities from so-called Israel. Using language like “conflict” and “war in the Middle East” further delegitimizes the Palestinian people’s struggle for self-determination against the apartheid state of Israel by deliberately hindering the ability to acknowledge the ongoing violence as a form of ethnic cleansing. Settler-colonial states like so-called Canada and their institutions continue to legitimize their existence and those of other settler-colonial states making them complicit in the ongoing genocide. York University is complicit as they continue to invest students’ money into weapons and arms manufacturers. We denounce the statements put forth and stances taken by the York University Administration as they use their platform to obfuscate the ongoing occupation of Palestine and absolve themselves from their role in the ongoing genocide.

    Our Unions remain unwavering in our support of the Palestinian people’s fight for self-determination and liberation. We actively affirm that Palestinians are inherently entitled to the right to shape their political, economic, social, and cultural future. This struggle confronts the persistent oppression, displacement, and human rights abuses inflicted upon the Palestinian population. We stand firmly in solidarity with those resisting such oppression, actively contributing to the legitimate fight for justice against settler-colonial nations. We as students’ unions have a responsibility to spread awareness and support the liberation of Palestine and all struggles for Indigenous sovereignty.

    For more information on the history of Palestine, visit: Decolonize Palestine: https://decolonizepalestine.com/

    • ILikeBoobies
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      9 months ago

      You should disagree with this part

      these events serve as a reminder that resistance against colonial violence is justified and necessary.

      • OutlierBlue
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        9 months ago

        That’s just basic self defense.

        If any foreign power came in and tried to evict everyone in my neighbourhood so they could colonize it instead, I would fight back with whatever I had at my disposal. Are you saying you’d be okay with someone doing that to you?

        • ILikeBoobies
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          9 months ago

          OFC I like colonialism because Mohammad was a colonizer and every Muslim should strive to emulate him

          /s

          The real problem is the hostage taking and attack on civilians

          The problem with Israel is their attacks on civilians

          And you would see Ukrainian support diminish if they started behaving the way the Russians are to them

          The student corporation being a conservative bastion that wishes to mimic Hammurabi doesn’t make them correct just because they sit on your side of the overall issue

          • girlfreddy@sh.itjust.worksOP
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            9 months ago

            I don’t understand what you’re talking about. The article is about students sympathising with Palestinians and my comment in no way, shape or form denoted a sympathy for Zionism.

            • ILikeBoobies
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              9 months ago

              Are you unaware of the violence they are supporting?

              You can scroll up to see my quoted part of their statement, it’s not about sympathy for Palestinians

              • girlfreddy@sh.itjust.worksOP
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                9 months ago

                Prior to the comment above my last toot, you never once elucidated anything about the violence from either side.

                • ILikeBoobies
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                  9 months ago

                  Oh sorry, I didn’t realize you were unaware of Hamas’ attack against Israel and kidnapping of civilians that these comments are in defense of