Cleveland Peace Action supports Case Western Reserve University students in their stand for free speech on campus, especially around the conflict in Israel-Palestine. We should mention that many leaders in Cleveland Peace Action are alumni of the University.

Today’s students, including Students for Justice in Palestine and allied student groups, stand in a long tradition of legitimate on-campus protest going back, at least, to the Vietnam War. Editors at The Observer have recently made a compelling case for students’ free speech on campus. Retribution by the administration or onerous rules that block any prompt response to breaking news inhibit free speech and betrays the university’s role as a place of open inquiry and dialogue. The administration must recognize the right of all students to express their political views, unhindered, at this crucial moment in U.S. history.

There are better ways of handling highly controversial issues like Israel-Palestine. Universities, above all our institutions, should be bastions of free speech. If students are demanding divestment from Israel because of its policies and actions, why not have campus-wide open discussions about the issue, viewed from all sides? Pledging this very thing led students at Brown University, Northwestern University and the University of Minnesota to dismantle their encampments last spring.

Suppressing free speech on campus will not resolve tensions around this issue within the university community. And preventing discussion in our society of the complexities of the Israel-Palestine relationship will only delay any movement toward resolution and peace.

Universities like CWRU must take the lead.

On behalf of Cleveland Peace Action,

Francis Chiappa, ’77