Tag: PEN

DISPROPORTIONATE USE OF FORCE AGAINST PEACEFUL STUDENT PROTESTERS IN FLORIDA CANNOT STAND, COALITION SAYS

On By Malcolm R. CampbellIn issues, writing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 22, 2024
PEN AMERICA
(MIAMI)— A coalition of Florida and national organizations replied to a letter from the State University System of Florida (SUS) today, again urging Florida university leadership to adhere to constitutional obligations by rejecting the use of disproportionate police force and harsh tactics against student protests.The coalition first wrote to the presidents of Florida’s colleges and universities on May 3, raising alarm about the disturbing use of force against pro-Palestanian student protests on campuses, and expressing concerns about safety and basic free speech rights. In his response on May 9, Chancellor Ray Rodrigues alleged that Florida’s response was appropriate and within constitutional boundaries, applauding Florida’s “unapologetically partnering with law enforcement.”

Today, the coalition responded to Chancellor Rodrigues, challenging the justification offered for the use of force, and noting the worrisome mischaracterization of constitutionally protected student speech as violence or harassment. The coalition raised concerns about evidence of viewpoint-based discrimination seen in statements by senior administration officials, and emphasized the importance of preserving academic freedom and free speech on campuses amid rising student unrest. Coalition members also invited SUS leadership to meet to discuss these concerns and their resolution.

Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America Florida, said: “Student protests on Florida campuses have rarely been met with this level of unnecessary hostility and violence. Even when it involves civil disobedience, peaceful protest should be met with a proportional response that does not physically harm students or suppress their constitutionally protected speech. Under a governor who has incited hostility towards peaceful student demonstrators and called for their expulsion, the actions of many Florida universities have been worrisome and dangerous, posing  risk to student and faculty safety. We hope the SUS will take our response as an opportunity for productive conversation about how to protect all students and their free speech rights.”

—Malcolm

PEN AMERICA CONDEMNS UC BERKELEY PROTESTS THAT TURNED VIOLENT, WITH REPORTED ANTISEMITIC BIGOTRY

On By Malcolm R. CampbellIn violence

Even with Deep Disagreements, No Student Should Have their Physical Safety at Risk, Nor Subjected to Taunts and Slurs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 29, 2024
NEW YORK – PEN America today condemned protests at the University of California-Berkeley  earlier this week that turned violent, included antisemitic slurs and gestures, and led to the cancellation of a planned lecture with Ran Bar-Yoshafat, deputy director of the Kohelet Policy Forum, an Israeli think tank.

“The violent protests and reports of antisemitic bigotry that led to the event cancellation are abhorrent,” said Jonathan Friedman, director of free expression and education programs at PEN America. “No student should have their physical safety jeopardized for attending a public event on campus. While protest of any speaker is within students’ rights, violence, threats, and harassment are never appropriate. These protesters crossed the line — violating the rights of other students who organized the event and came to listen.”

The lecture had been organized by multiple Jewish student organizations. Despite efforts by the University to safeguard the event, even moving it to a second location, it was ultimately canceled for safety reasons, in response to escalating violence. According to reports, about 200 protesters gathered outside the event venue on campus, before forcing their entry inside, smashing two windows and a door. Students who had come to attend the lecture have reported being physically assaulted, spit at, and injured, and that some protesters taunted them with antisemitic slurs. In response, the university has opened a formal criminal investigation and has initiated its student code-of-conduct process. An official statement from the University Chancellor and Provost said the attack on the event and the building constituted “an attack on the fundamental values of the university.”

“University campuses must be a place for dialogue, even when there are deep disagreements,” Friedman continued. “This is a heckler’s veto taken to the extreme. We applaud Berkeley’s efforts to try to have the event go forward despite the planned disruption, to reach out to the affected students, and to investigate and enforce their policies in the aftermath. They should pursue appropriate accountability for those found responsible for the violence, threats, antisemitic slurs, and damaged property, as part of the investigation underway. While campuses must ensure that the fullest breadth of protected political speech can be heard, they must be able to take assertive steps so that events like this can be held safely.”

PEN AMERICA: REMOVING BLOCK BUTTON ON TWITTER/X PUTS ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF THE PLATFORM

On By Malcolm R. CampbellIn Social Media

PEN.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 18, 2023

(NEW YORK)—In response to a thread on Twitter (now known as “X”) from Elon Musk that suggests he may end the platform’s block button, PEN America’s Viktorya Vilk, director for Digital Safety and Free Expression, issued the comments below:

“Elon Musk seems determined to make X (formerly known as Twitter) the least safe and least equitable social media platform on the internet. Before Musk acquired the platform, PEN America worked closely for years with Twitter’s human rights experts and trust and safety specialists to reduce the harm of online abuse against women, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, and others disproportionately targeted online for their identities and professions. Since acquiring the platform, Musk has undone it all – and then some. He’s fired all of the human rights experts and most of the trust and safety specialists. He’s shut down one safety feature after the next or put them behind a pay wall. Removing the block button–a critical tool that so many writers, journalists, artists, and other users need to protect themselves from attempts to silence them with hate and harassment— would just be adding insult to injury and putting yet another nail in the coffin of a platform that is no longer Twitter, either in name or in spirit.”

–

In its story “Elon Musk’s Idea to Actually Make Twitter a Hellsite,” Slate Magazine writes, “Elon Musk said on Friday that he plans to do away with the block feature on X, the website that most people still call Twitter. Musk’s publicly stated case is a vague one: that blocking “makes no sense.” But it’s reasonable to think his motivations are more specific. Musk seems to have become aware by the week of this year’s Super Bowl that he’s one of the most commonly blocked users of his own website.”

The New Republic writes,”Elon Musk on Friday declared he wants to remove the block feature on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter—despite frequently using the block button himself. There’s also one other big problem: Musk’s desire to limit this blocking feature could also cost X its spot in various app stores.”

Musk’s plan sounds like lose-lose for everyone, including himself.

–Malcolm

PEN AMERICA CONDEMNS KILLING OF PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN JOURNALIST SHIREEN ABU AKLEH, SHOT TO DEATH WHILE REPORTING ON THE WEST BANK

On By Malcolm R. CampbellIn Journalism, writing2 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 11, 2022
PEN America has issued the following statement from Liesl Gerntholtz, Director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom To Write Center, on the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh:  

“PEN America condemns the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh today while reporting from the West Bank. For a journalist with a vest that clearly designated her as a member of the press to be shot in the head while reporting a story is a shocking affront. We call for an urgent, credible, and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting—including allegations that the Israeli military deliberately targeted her. Her killing illustrates the dangers faced by journalists all over the world as they do their jobs.”

Shireen Abu Akleh, 51, had worked for the Al Jazeera network for 25 years.

—

See also:  CPJ calls for international probe into Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing in West Bank

“Israeli and Palestinian authorities should ensure that the investigation into the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is swift and transparent, that all evidence is shared with international investigators, and that those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday.”