The International Association of Democratic Lawyers participated in the collective video and statement of scholars, lawyers and activists in support of the #WeStandWithFatima campaign. On 3 July 2023, CUNY for Palestine and Within Our Lifetime released a video titled #WeStandWithFatima in coalition with 34 legal scholars, distinguished professors, organizers and artists, alongside CUNY students and workers in defense of CUNY Law class-elected speaker Fatima.
Marjorie Cohn, IADL Bureau Member participated, as did several other IADL Bureau members and participants, including Suzanne Adely, National Lawyers Guild President and Maria LaHood of the Center for Constitutional Rights.
Fatima was subjected to a coordinated national smear campaign and accused by CUNY’s own Board of Trustees of committing ‘hate speech’ after she criticized Israeli state violence in her commencement address on May 30, 2023. The video #WeStandWithFatima speaks back to this accusation in a strong, collective voice, including powerful scholars, organizers and public figures such as Ruth Wilson Gilmore, Robin D.G. Kelley, Laura Whitehorn, Noura Erakat, Judith Butler, Corey Robin, Dave Zirin, Ijeoma Oluo and more.
Leading up to the release of the video, the CUNY community has emphasized its solidarity with Fatima and with the movement for Palestinian liberation in a series of two disruptions of meetings of the Board of Trustees on June 5th and June 20th, along with an online event focused on strategizing in response to right wing attacks. Such attacks have been increasing at CUNY in recent months and have included the closure of the Social Justice and Equity Centers (SJEC) at BMCC after their planned educational event series on Palestine,shut down after zionist backlash outrage, and the firing of artist Shellyne Rodriguez after she confronted a national anti-abortion organization while they tabled on campus.
For additional details and quotes, email:
cuny4palestine@gmail.com
wolpalestine@gmail.com
For more information on the campaign to defend Fatima and Palestine organizing at CUNY, visit the campaign page at wolpalestine.com/defendfatima