Palestine Gag Rule is defeated at University of Michigan's Central Student Government.

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"Gag rule aimed at stifling Palestine speech fails to pass at UM-Ann Arbor"

ARAB AMERICAN NEWS (Dearborn, Michigan)

October 6, 2012

English: http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Community&article=5989

Arabic: http://www.arabamericannews.com/Arabic/index.php?mod=article&cat=%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA&article=12845


ANN ARBOR – A resolution aimed at limiting speakers during a community concerns portion of Student Government meetings failed to pass this past Tuesday night after it did not achieve the two-thirds majority needed to amend the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Central Student Government's operating procedures.


The resolution was proposed last week and would have allowed non-students only one opportunity per semester to address CSG in regards to non-agenda items. It had been brought up in response to the ongoing efforts of local activists Blaine Coleman and Mozghan Savabieasfahani, who have consistently spoken at meetings about the need for the university to divest from Israel, which has continued to occupy Palestinian lands while demolishing homes, building settlements, and expanding its territory in violation of international law.

The resolution's final vote tally was 12 to 10 in favor with one person abstaining according to a report from the campus newspaper The Michigan Daily. The activists were flanked by several others, who brought signs in a show of support.





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"Will they ban 'Boycott Israel' speech at the University of Michigan's Central Student Government?"

The University of Michigan's Central Student Government (CSG) seems ready to vote on a gag rule which would effectively shut down Palestine advocacy--

"UM - Ann Arbor student government proposes limitations on anti-Israeli speech"

September 28, 2012
Arab American News, at:

http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Community&article=5984

"ANN ARBOR — The Central Student Government meeting at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor was filled with tension when the body proposed a resolution on Tuesday evening that would end several years of attendance and speeches towards individuals who continuously raise awareness about the occupation of Palestine by Israel..."

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See also the YouTube video:

"Will they ban 'Boycott Israel' speech at the University of Michigan's Central Student Government?" 

At-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDM8wsAPF7Q



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"Boycott Israel" bus advertisement wins a victory in federal court:

"Ann Arbor bus agency loses ruling over anti-Israel ads"

 

The Detroit News (Detroit, Michigan), 9/28/2012,

 

At: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120928/METRO/209280458/1478/rss

 

"Ann Arbor — A judge has ruled against the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority in a lawsuit that challenges the bus agency's rejection of an anti-Israel ad.

"Flint federal Judge Mark Goldsmith says the agency's policy in favor of ads that are in "good taste" is vague and unconstitutional.

"Blaine Coleman wants to put an ad on buses that would have skulls and bones and say, "Boycott 'Israel.' Boycott Apartheid." He believes the Israeli government treats Palestinians unfairly.

"The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority says it turns down ads that ridicule people. Officials say Coleman's ad would probably turn away riders, but the judge says the First Amendment trumps any business concerns..."

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The friends of Sol Metz, Palestine human rights activist, remember his life with a newspaper advertisement.

The friends of Sol Metz (1943-2012), Palestine human rights activist, remember his life--

--in the Ann Arbor, Michigan newspaper, AnnArbor.com, Thursday, Septmeber 20, 2012, page A5.

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(To enlarge, click on https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXO9dZjiSfrAHnz1cFzJtFzv8doDlz8Bva6Fyb_vQhlvM8ywQvCpyGQcrlKOSusKmmielgX8TDUbr7OcK2_K3ifb-EWtPP4gH8qiNeMTScrigi4x-FNWBokgssdW1Dmo-fuYh5y4kaBjf/s1600/Sol.jpg , then click again.)

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Sol Metz

A Palestine human rights activist,

we remember our friend, Sol Metz, the conscience of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Sol was a faithful participant in Ann Arbor’s Palestine human rights vigils, every Saturday morning outside Beth Israel Congregation. He was a founding member of Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends. 

Sol stood with the hundreds of Ann Arborites who asked the People’s Food Co-op to adopt a humanitarian boycott against all Israeli goods.

At their request, Sol often carried his photo of Palestinian women sitting in the rubble, after the Israeli military demolished their home.

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Total boycott against Apartheid "Israel" is demanded, at the University of Michigan's Central Student Government meeting, on September 11, 2012.

This video shows demonstrations for boycott against Israel at the University of Michigan, on September 4th and 11th, 2012.

 

These demonstrations were held in front of the Michigan Union, the same building in which the Central Student Government meets.

The video also shows total boycott against Israel being demanded, at the University of Michigan's Central Student Government meeting, on September 11, 2012:

http://youtu.be/MF8pNDtLb4Q

 

What do you do with a violent, racist apartheid state like "Israel"?

You boycott it until it's abolished.

Apartheid South Africa was abolished.

Apartheid "Israel" is next.

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Boycott Apartheid "Israel" at the Michigan Union, 6:30 PM Tuesday

Boycotting Apartheid “Israel” at the Michigan Union—

 

See you there, this Tuesday, 6:30 PM.

 

530 South State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 

Bring the Arab Spring to the University of Michigan.

  

Over a billion Muslims are threatened by the racist state of “Israel” and its nuclear arsenal.

After we stand outside the Michigan Union, we will head upstairs to the 3^rd floor.

We’ll ask the Central Student Government for a resolution urging the University to boycott all products from Apartheid “Israel”.

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"Ann Arbor agency defends anti-Israel ad rejection"

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"Ann Arbor agency defends anti-Israel ad rejection"

ASSOCIATED PRESS
August 4, 2012

On ABC-TV Channel 13, Toledo, Ohio at: http://www.13abc.com/story/19194535/ann-arbor-agency-defends-anti-israel-ad-rejection



ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - An Ann Arbor bus agency is vigorously defending itself in a lawsuit related to the rejection of a provocative ad on its vehicles.

Blaine Coleman's ad would have skulls and bones and say, 'Boycott Israel. Boycott Apartheid.' He believes the Israeli government treats Palestinians unfairly.

Coleman wants the ad on buses that travel near the University of Michigan, but the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority rejected it. In a court filing this week, the agency says it turns down ads that ridicule a group of people. Bus officials say Coleman's ad would make people uncomfortable and have a 'negative impact' on ridership.

Federal Judge Mark Goldsmith appears close to making a decision on an injunction sought by Coleman's lawyers. They say his free-speech rights are being violated.



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