Our Manifesto
Get to know Students for Palestine Freiburg
Who we are:
The university group "Students for Palestine" is an anti-colonial and anti-racist university movement. It unites committed students who wish to jointly advocate for the rights of the oppressed Palestinian people and against the repression of Palestinian voices in Germany. Our movement arose from the need to confront the silence surrounding the occupation of Palestine and the suppression of Palestinian voices in Germany. This need mainly revolves around academic circles, where universities participate in this suppression. Therefore, we, as students and members of the University of Freiburg, feel an urgent obligation to defend the fundamental right to freedom of speech.
Our Main Goals:
1. Promotion of Academic Discourse on Palestine
The systematic omission of Palestine from the university curriculum reflects the colonial practice of erasing the identity of the colonized. Our first and foremost goal is to fight against this practice and promote an open academic dialogue on Palestine. We endorse educational events and direct actions that empower marginalized communities and advocate for the Palestinian freedom movement, raising awareness and garnering support.
2. Defense of Freedom of Speech
Our fight against the suppression of Palestinian voices and for the inalienable right to freedom of speech in the academic context is at the heart of our mission. We recognize that this censorship is part of a larger pattern of marginalization and cultural imperialism. Our goal is to bring about a change in the academic context that recognizes and promotes the value of diversity in thoughts and discourses. We are committed to ensuring that academic platforms become forums for free expression, where exchange on Palestine is not only allowed but encouraged, to ensure a comprehensive understanding and just treatment of all peoples.
3. Establishment of a Safe Space
Given the constant anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab racism at Uni Freiburg and in Germany, it's imperative to protect the sovereignty of these marginalized communities, e.g. by creating a safe space tailored to their needs. Our goal is to ensure safety and amplify the voices of all those affected by these mechanisms of discrimination and oppression. The systematic denial of spaces for events that promote an open discourse on Palestine is a widespread phenomenon in Germany, particularly at universities, including the University of Freiburg. This approach is symptomatic of a profound political oppression. Our group stands against this systematic censorship aimed at excluding Palestinian perspectives from public and academic discourse. We criticize the insufficient efforts of universities to support "diversity and inclusion" and advocate for recognition and empathy towards all affected students and members. Thus, we aim to cultivate an academic environment where discrimination and racism have no place.
4. Fighting All Forms of Discrimination
Our fight is against any form of discrimination, including but not limited to: Racism, Zionism, Antisemitism, Anti-Muslim Racism, Ethnocentrism, Sexism, Discrimination against LGBTQIA+, Ageism, Classism and Ableism. It's crucial to highlight our unwavering opposition to Zionism, as we advocate for equality and justice for all. We place special emphasis on Palestinian solidarity, opposing Zionist, imperialist and colonial stances with care and attention. We consider ourselves students of the critical theory and are constantly reflecting on our own unconscious biases. Thus, we commit to a lifelong process of (un-)learning and promoting social justice within our university community.
5. Intersectionality
We acknowledge the intersectionality of fights for justice and freedom. The Palestinian fight for freedom, justice and self-determination is a cause that fights colonialism, occupation, displacement, discrimination and human rights violations. The Palestinian cause is a fight that overlaps with social justice movements such as: decolonial Feminism, LGBTQIA+ rights, anti-Racism, anti-Capitalism, anti-Imperialism, Indigenous rights, the fight against white supremacy and any form of supremacy and all social movements that fight oppression and injustice. It is also a fight that overlaps strongly with environmental justice. Only by recognizing the interconnectedness of these struggles that highlight the need for a holistic approach to address systemic injustices will we achieve collective liberation.
✊🏽🇵🇸 Free, Free Palestine!