Unveiling the Chilly Climate
The Suppression of Speech on Palestine in Canada
http://www.ijvcanada.org/unveilingthechillyclimate/
Date Written: 2022-10-12
Publisher: Independant Jewish Voices (Canada)
Year Published: 2022
Resource Type: Article
Cx Number: CX24769
Independant Jewish Voices (Canada) conducted a study on the Canadian "chilling effect" in which academics, students and Palestine solidarity activists face repression in discussing Israel's crimes against Palestinians.
Abstract:
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Excerpt:
Interviewees recounted that their experiences included: political intervention into hiring; attempts to prevent access to event venues and the attempted cancellation of public events on Palestine as well as targeting and doxing, including the inclusion of 128 Canadian academics and activists on the website of Canary Mission, an organization which purports to document “individuals and organizations that promote hatred of the US, Israel and Jews on North American college campuses.” Threats of violence and genuine acts of violence were experienced by student activists and these often contained racial and sexual slurs including threats of sexual violence. Students were subject to warnings and disciplinary measures by university administrators whom respondents often described as being hostile to Palestine solidarity activism on campus. Faculty respondents reported restrictions on academic freedom, self-censoring of expression on Palestinian human rights, discriminatory treatment by academic publishing platforms, harassment by pro-Israel advocacy groups and media outlets, attacks from colleagues, political interference by university administration, classroom surveillance by pro-Israel student groups, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab racism. Indeed, the suppression of speech on Palestine has significant consequences in academia where it threatens principles of academic freedom and encourages surveillance of critical intellectuals and activists and of the oppositional knowledge that they produce.
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