By Jane Piazza

On Wednesday, March 24, 2010, Israeli historian Ilan Pappé spoke at Woldman Theater in UB’s Norton Hall to an audience of about 170 people, many from the WNY Peace Center and UB students. He spoke quite in depth on “The Past and Present Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine”, punctuating serious material with down-to-earth good humor, and then entertained a very open question-and-answer period. The event was sponsored by the U.B. Muslim Students Association and the Palestine-Israel Committee of the WNY Peace Center.         

While acknowledging the need for an Israeli state, Pappe emphasized the need for  regime change. The Zionist representation of Israeli-Palestinian reality in U.S. publications has perpetuated many myths. Some of these myths include: The 1919-1948 period, often referred to as the time when Palestinian “terrorism” began, deemphasizes the importance of Britain “moving” Palestine and necessitating a forced migration very destructive to Palestinian people. Also, the 1948-1967 period, often characterizing Israel as a model of democracy, fails to mention the military control of Palestine and then the eventual occupation of the West Bank when U.S. President Johnson supported it. Read more »

From Rochester IMC

Rochester, NY— After serving a free “People's Breakfast” outside the convention center from 7:30am-8:45am (an alternative to the Rochester Business Journal's so-called “Power Breakfast” costing $45 inside) 6-7 students and community members entered the Rochester Riverside Convention Center to join the mayoral control discussion happening inside. Unfortunately, the students were met with intense physical force. When students were denied entry they respectfully asked to speak to the manager. Within 15 seconds 4 security guards denied the students access to the manager and began to threaten to arrest people and forcefully grab, manhandle, and push people out of the convention center. In addition to attacking students, one security guard went after a reporter from the Rochester Independent Media Center who was on scene and filming the incident.

All security guards refused to identify themselves and speak about their actions. When Richard Adamson, the events manager, came outside to speak with the students he claimed couldn't speak for the building or the event. He claimed we needed to speak to an unspecified spokesperson for the city. Nobody at the convention center was willing to be accountable to discuss why people couldn't be on the public property so instead of explaining their policy the events manager ordered immediate and excessive use of force.

A number of students and community members served a People's Breakfast outside the convention center and were interested in joining the mayoral control discussion inside because people shouldn't be excluded from Mayor Duffy's first forum on mayoral control on the basis of money. Although this forum was officially open to the public, it was economically restrictive and at 8:30am-10:00am on a weekday--a time when even district students and parents who could afford the breakfast were are unable to attend.

Even worse, district students under age 17 who were walking down Main Street in front of the convention center were apprehended by police for “truancy” and immediately taken to school. As we have previously stated, Rochester Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) believes the mayor's dialogue with students and parents on mayoral control has been woefully inadequate. Rochester SDS continues to call for open students-run forums where students can inform and engage the mayor on their needs and the the topic of mayoral control. Read more »