On October 4, the College Republicans at Columbia University hosted Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist. The Minutemen are known for inciting racist violence against immigrants. In an exercise of free speech, students unfurled a banner on the stage reading “No One is Illegal”, prompting audience members to join them on the stage with another banner with the message, “No to Racism”. These peaceful protesters were violently assaulted. Below is their initial statement published the night of the protest as well as a link to a video showing parts of the event. They are now under attack from the administration and potentially face disciplinary charges. Please support them by signing the online petition at this URL. The students are also soliciting letters of support and solidarity, which can be sent to them at nominutemen@…
Statement of the Student Protestors:
We celebrate free speech: for that reason we allowed the Minutemen to speak, and for that same reason we peacefully occupied the stage and spoke ourselves. Our peaceful protest was violently attacked by members of the College Republicans and their supporters, who are the very same people who invited the Minutemen to our campus in the first place. The Minutemen are not a legitimate voice in the debate on immigration. They are a racist, armed militia who have declared open hunting season on immigrants, causing countless hate crimes and over 3000 deaths on the border. Why should exploitative corporations have free passes between nations, but individual people not? No human being is illegal.
Links to coverage, including video:
Columbia Spectator
http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2006/10/76890.html
http://www.bwog.net/index.php?page=post&article_id=2265
Police Go Nuts: Six Arrested after Anti-Minutemen Demo at Mexican Consulate
10/7 | One guy was charged with “spitting”; the others were grabbed after the demo as they stood on the sidewalk. If wednesday night was a people’s mini-riot at Columbia, this was a mini-police riot.
About 6 anarchist and sds folks were arrested today at the anti-minutemen demo at the consulate. One of them is being charged with spitting on the floor, and the other five are charged with 1 misdemeanor count of inciting a riot and 2 misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct. They were at the 13th precinct at 21st st between 2nd and 3rd, but they’re being moved to the tombs at 100 centre st i believe. There are gonna be folks outside the criminal courts there from now till morning, i presume, waiting until they get out. If anyone wants to get out there and show support, go for it. There are NLG people and mds and sds and nymaa and others working on getting bail, figuring out the next step.
To read more, go here.
We celebrate free speech unless we dont like what you are going to say. Nice.