September 2002
September 12, 2002
According to numerous media
reports, on Monday, September 9, 2002, pro Palestinian supporters resorted
to violence – physically blocking the movement of people, throwing chairs,
and breaking windows to prevent Benjamin Netanyahu, the former
Prime Minister of Israel, from giving a speech at Concordia University
in Montreal.
The Society for Academic
Freedom and Scholarship condemns these violent actions by hooligans that
forced the cancellation of the speech. The mob’s behavior prevented
not just one speech from being heard, but also assaulted important freedoms
that Canadians take for granted, those of free speech and freedom of assembly.
These rights are not luxuries, but are fundamental to our democracy.
And without them the Academy cannot exist. The pursuit of truth is
not possible without reasoned debate of opposing positions.
All of us have a stake in preserving these freedoms.
Thus we call on our political
and civic leaders, and especially our university presidents, to condemn
such reprehensible and destructive behaviors and assert that these freedoms
will be forcefully defended in the future. We strongly support the
right of dissenting groups to protest in a peaceful manner that does not
curtail other people’s free speech. But that is not what happened
at Concordia. Accordingly, we expect that those individuals found
to be responsible for abusing free speech rights and for engaging in violence
against persons and property will be appropriately dealt with according
to law and Concordia University’s policies. Finally, we ask Concordia University
to end its moratorium on “the use of university space for events related
to the Middle East conflict” as quickly as possible. Although
it is understandable that the senior leadership would feel that a cooling
off period might be useful, a prolonged moratorium will send the message
that free speech at Concordia University can be hijacked by thugs.
Such an impression must never be given in a free society.
Help us maintain freedom in teaching, research and scholarship by joining SAFS or making a donation.
