Statement: Claremont faculty members establish Faculty for Justice in Palestine chapter

On Feb. 10, faculty at the Claremont Colleges publicly announced the formation of a chapter of Faculty in Justice for Palestine.

Claremont FJP’s formation follows the public formation of FJPs at Harvard, Georgetown and UPenn on Jan. 18, and of several UC schools, Princeton, NYU and Rutgers in the fall.

A website for the Faculty for Justice in Palestine National Network, which now lists the Claremont Consortium as a chapter, describes FJP as “a decentralized, national network of affiliated campus chapters whose faculty and staff members support the cause of Palestinian liberation through education, advocacy and action.” At the time of this article’s publication, the website lists FJP chapters at more than 90 different universities or university systems.

Below is a press release that Claremont FJP sent via email to Undercurrents, titled “Claremont faculty members have established Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP) chapter.”

A group of more than 40 faculty members from the 7Cs have established a Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP) chapter. This coalition emerged from the statement last fall issued by 180+ faculty members and four departments standing in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and colleagues in occupied Palestine. The Claremont FJP chapter is a community co-sponsor of the #SuspendHaifa motion currently being considered at Pitzer College.

The Claremont FJP has ratified the following Principles of Unity:

• FJP is a democratic and plural collective of Claremont faculty who support the cause of Palestinian liberation. We define faculty broadly according to AAUP guidelines to include all those involved in creating the teaching and learning environments at the Claremont Colleges.
• FJP understands the struggle for Palestinian freedom to be aligned with anti-colonial movements and struggles around the world. These include movements for Indigenous land rights, Black liberation, gender and sexual freedom, immigrant and refugee justice, and a liveable and sustainable planet.
• FJP supports and endorses the principles of BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions). As faculty, academic and cultural boycotts of Israeli institutions as outlined by PACBI and divestment in relation to college endowments and retirement funds are most relevant. FJP calls for an end to Israel’s occupation and colonization of Palestine. We insist on the fundamental rights of Palestinians to self-determination and legal equality, and we pledge to respect, protect, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and lands.
• FJP rejects the conflation of support for Palestinian liberation and criticism of Israel with antisemitism. We stand against racism and oppression in all its manifestations, including anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Muslim racism and Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti-Blackness, white supremacy, caste discrimination, misogyny, homophobia, and oppression targeting trans and non-binary gender identifications, and people with disabilities.
• FJP supports and amplifies the work of SJP and other student groups struggling for Palestinian liberation in Claremont.
• FJP strives to protect and defend students, faculty, and staff who engage in speech and activity for Palestine and Palestinians, including BDS organizing. We support and defend the right to teach and talk about interlocking global systems of oppression including those related to Palestine.
• FJP affirms that the most securely employed among us protect more vulnerable members at all times. FJP participates in regional cross-campus coalitions with allies at other colleges and universities, and exists as a branch of the National FJP network.

Claremont faculty members who affirm these principles are welcome to join the FJP or our affiliated announcements-only listserv by emailing claremontfjp@gmail.com.

A PDF version of the statement can be found here.