24 April, NYC: The Road to Freedom – A Panel Discussion with Omar Barghouti

Monday, 24 April
8:00 pm
Location TBA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/185758698609213/

The Road to Freedom: The BDS Movement for Palestinian Rights and the Struggle Against Apartheid

Join CUAD as we have the honor of receiving BDS co-founder and defender of human rights, justice, and freedom Omar Barghouti for a panel on what it means to build a movement against apartheid in the 21st century. Omar Barghouti will be joined by Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace Rebecca Vilkomerson and History Professor Premilla Nadasen for a conversation on the past, present, and future of the BDS movement, its significance in this political moment and relationship to other social movements, and the mounting political persecution of all who are fighting for justice, from Palestine to the United States and beyond.

Omar Barghouti and other BDS movement activists working to secure Palestinian rights have long been bullied and threatened by the Israeli government. Omar has personally faced an Israeli travel ban and the threat of “targeted civil elimination” – a euphemism for civil assassination – for his role in the growing BDS movement. He has long warned about the Israeli government’s “tarnishing unit” established to silence BDS supporters using McCarthyist tactics. In light of the recent UN report characterizing Israel as an apartheid state engaged in crimes against humanity, it is of utmost importance to come learn more about the BDS movement for Palestinian rights and help build it. The discussion will give an update on the situation in Palestine today, and reflect on the growing movements for justice in Palestine, in Black and indigenous communities in the United States, and the principled solidarity between these and other struggles rejecting all forms of colonialism and racism.

This event comes at a crucial moment of growth and expansion in all social movements, as well as in the BDS struggle for Palestinian rights on our campus. Come hear from activists and scholars at the forefront of struggle on the important intersections in our movements, and on how to we can face state repression and achieve justice and decolonization.

This event is free and open to the public.

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To learn more about our campaign for Columbia to divest from companies that profit from Israeli occupation, settler colonialism, and apartheid, visit our website: apartheiddivest.org. Sign our petition today: bit.ly/CUADpet.

This event would not be possible without the support of our amazing co-sponsors: Women’s, Gender and Sexuality studies department, Anthropology department, Columbia Queer Alliance, Divest Barnard for a Just Transition, Student-Worker Solidarity, Mobilized African Diaspora, CU Turath, No Red Tape, Barnard Columbia Socialists, South Asian Feminisms Alliance, African Students’ Association, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network