The University of Regina’s Students’ Union voted at its AGM on February 1 to join the global boycott, divestment and sanctions movement in support of Palestinian human rights. The resolution resolved that the U of R Students’ Union:
– Recognize that the right to education is a fundamental human righttps://psnedmonton.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post-new.phpht that is basic to human freedom;
– Join student organizations around the globe by endorsing the 2005 call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions from Palestinian civil society;
– Commit to identifying and divesting from companies that support or profit from Israeli war crimes, occupation and oppression;
– Affirm that students have a vital role in supporting struggles for social justice, and stand in solidarity with Palestinians’ struggle for self-determination and freedom.
While there is widespread support on campus for the resolution (URSU president Kent Peterson says, “There were actually no con speakers to the motion. There were a few pro speakers, and then it was voted upon. I believe it was passed unanimously and if it wasn’t unanimous, there might have been one vote against it.”), pro-Israel groups including the Canadian Federation of Jewish Students and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs have predictably decried the democratically passed resolution and are calling for it to be repealed.
Prince Albert Conservative MP Randy Hoback rose in the House of Commons on March 1 and called on U of R President Vianne Timmons to condemn the move, charging that URSU had used “alarmist language” and taken “a simplistic and prejudicial view to an issue that deserves a far more mature and balanced approach.”
In the face of this coordinated backlash, members of the URSU need to know that their principled move is supported by Canadians who are concerned about human rights. Please take a few moments to send a note to URSU executives to congratulate them on their principled resolution and to indicate your support:
You can send emails to URSU at contactus@ursu.ca, and/or to individual members of the exec (phone calls are great too):
Kent Peterson (President)
(306) 586-8811 ext. 206 | president@ursu.ca
Paige Kezima
Vice President of External Affairs
(306) 586-8811 ext. 203 | external@ursu.ca
Haanim Nur
Vice President of Operations & Finance
(306) 586-8811 ext. 235 | finance@ursu.ca
Melissa Blackhurst
Vice President of Student Affairs
(306) 586-8811 ext. 212 | student@ursu.ca
PALESTINE SOLIDARITY NETWORK 