Another Win in the Battle to Discuss Palestinian Rights

FEATURING RACHEL WEBER AND JOSEPH LEVINE – A panel discussion about free speech and Palestinian rights at the University of Massachusetts taking place May 4th has become yet another flashpoint in the fight to speak out freely on a contentious topic. Well known commentators like Linda Sarsour, Mark Lamont Hill, and Vijay Prashad were being advertised as speakers for the event which is called, “Not Backing Down: Israel, Free Speech, and the Battle for Palestinian Rights.”

A panel on the backlash against pro-Palestinian voices itself ironically faced a backlash with a legal request to stop the panel from taking place. But a judge has just ruled that the First Amendment does not have an exception when it comes to discussing Palestinian rights. The lawsuit attempting to stop the panel is one of many such attempts to squash any and all discussion of Palestinian rights around the US.

Rachel Weber, Attorney based in Massachusetts, Joseph Levine, Professor and Chair of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Both are also members of Western Mass Jewish Voice for Peace.