ANNOUNCEMENTS: Direct Actions, Ceasefire Resolution, Anti-Semitism Bill
Weekly Starbucks Sit-Ins at the IMU
PSC will host a sit-in at the IMU Starbucks each Monday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Help us protest IU's involvement in the genocide of Palestinians. All you need to do is show up and take up space. Feel free to study, chat, and get to know all of us at the PSC!
Bloomington Residents call for a ceasefire
Residents urged the Bloomington City Council to support a resolution calling for a ceasefire. Despite not being on the agenda, the issue garnered significant attention from the public and organizations like Jewish Voice for Peace Indiana. Concerns over bias and Islamophobia were raised by community members, highlighting incidents of discrimination experienced by some residents.
Before the meeting, the Community Advisory on Public Safety (CAPS) Commission, sent a letter asking the council to put a ceasefire on its docket. The letter states: “It is the view of the CAPS Commission that the ongoing financial and military aid provided by the U.S. government and the State of Indiana to support the actions being taken by Israel in Gaza constitute a growing threat to the safety of the Bloomington community.” To view the full letter, you can click here.
A Bloomington resident started a petition asking city representatives from Bloomington to join 70 other cities across the US in calling for “a bilateral ceasefire in Gaza.” The petition asks for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of everyone who is being held hostage.
If you or anyone you know is a resident of Bloomington, you can sign the petition here.
Anti-Semitism Bill Goes To Negotiations
The notorious antisemitism bill HB1002 continues its way through the statehouse. The bill is dangerous because it would enshrine a definition that potentially casts criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic, thus attacking advocacy for Palestine. Thankfully, the bill was passed in the senate without this definition, and has now gone back to the house for negotiations.
Next we will see how the two versions are reconciled.
As the Chronicle points out:
Whether the definition will be returned to the bill is likely up to a conference committee that could convene in the coming days. To advance to the governor’s desk, the bill will still need final approval from the House chamber.
The House appeared enthusiastic about the pro-Israel language. The House conferees for the negotiations will be:
Chris Jeter: 317-234-0931 | 1-800-382-9841
Ed DeLaney: 317-234-9047 | 1-800-382-9842
Let them know what you think!
Other Student Actions
Last Tuesday, a group of concerned students challenged a Crane recruiting event and the Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs building. Crane Naval Division is the third largest naval base in the world and is located only 30 minutes southwest of Bloomington.
IU and Crane have been partners in war for a long time. The two further strengthened their relationship in October 2023 by agreeing to investments worth $111 million. Crane is a part of the US Department of Defense and is therefore contributing to the genocide of Palestinians, right now.
While this was not a PSC action, we certainly call on IU to divest from all affiliations with the military industrial complex and Israel.
Make your voices heard
Samia Halaby exhibition
It has been over three weeks since news about the esteemed alumna of Indiana University and Palestinian-American abstract painter, Samia Halaby, had her much-anticipated US premier retrospective canceled by Indiana University and the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art.
We continue to ask President Pamela Whitten to uphold the mission and values of Indiana University by restoring Samia Halaby's art exhibit in light of this cancellation.
We encourage everyone to support our cause by signing the petition and sharing it widely.
Unsuspend Professor Sinno
We also continue to seek your support in amplifying the student/alumni and faculty petition for Professor Abdulkader Sinno. Indiana University has suspended the tenured professor for assisting our organization in advocating for Palestine.
The university demonstrated a strong determination to penalize Professor Sinno, sidestepping established procedures that would have guaranteed him a hearing in front of peers before imposing such a severe sanction.
Free Sinno!