Action Alert: Oppose MPP vote to condemn Apartheid Week

Defend free speech on Palestine!
Tell your MPPs you oppose their decision to condemn Israeli Apartheid Week.

Members of the Ontario legislature passed a unanimous motion on February 25 that condemns Israel Apartheid Week (IAW), a series of campus-based educational events that takes place on university campuses all over the world (full text of motion below).

This is an unprecedented attack on free speech in Ontario. But it is also a clear sign of the strength and exponential growth of the Palestinian led solidarity campaign grounded in the 2005 call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Israel.

What is unfortunate about this motion, in addition to blatant attack on freedom of expression, is that it shows lack of understanding of the concept of Apartheid and the realities of life in Israel/Palestine. No one knows what apartheid looks like more than the people of South Africa, and in South Africa, IAW is taking place in at least three cities, under the banner of "Apartheid for One is Apartheid for All". It is being co-organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), one of the main bodies which significantly contributed to the demise of apartheid in South Africa. In Quebec, Dr. Jamal Zahalka, a Palestinian leader who will be the keynote speaker for IAW, will be presented before a full session of the National Assembly of Quebec. It is really unfortunate that the Ontario Legislature decided to condemn IAW without knowing what it is, and without even attempting to hear the organizers.

Please follow the steps below to let your MPPs know that you oppose this attack on free speech and the Palestine solidarity movement.

E-mailing is the fastest and easiest way to contact MPPs. Just follow these steps:

Step 1:

Cut and paste the e-mail addresses of the entire Ontario legislature into your "To" line (If your e-mail account can't e-mail this many addresses at once, try sending your e-mail to a smaller block of addresses one at a time. You may have to send several e-mails in order to reach all MPPs.). Please note that this list includes both Queen's Park and constituency office e-mail addresses.

NOTE: In addition to e-mail, it is important for MPPs receive phone calls and office visits all day tomorrow - voice your opposition in all possible ways.

saggelonitis.mpp@liberal.ola.org; saggelonitis.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; lalbanese.mpp@liberal.ola.org; lalbanese.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; ted.arnott@pc.ola.org; ted.arnottco@pc.ola.org; warthurs.mpp@liberal.ola.org; warthurs.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; bob.bailey@pc.ola.org; bob.baileyco@pc.ola.org; bbalkissoon.mpp@liberal.ola.org; bbalkissoon.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; toby.barrett@pc.ola.org; toby.barrettco@pc.ola.org; rbartolucci.mpp@liberal.ola.org; rbartolucci.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; cbentley.mpp@liberal.ola.org; cbentley.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; lberardinetti.mpp@liberal.ola.org; lberardinetti.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; mbest.mpp@liberal.ola.org; mbest.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; gbisson@ndp.on.ca; gbisson-qp@ndp.on.ca; gbisson-co@ndp.on.ca; jbradley.mpp@liberal.ola.org; jbradley.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; lbroten.mpp@liberal.ola.org; lbroten.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; mbrown.mpp@liberal.ola.org; mbrown.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; jbrownell.mpp@liberal.ola.org; jbrownell.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; dcansfield.mpp@liberal.ola.org; dcansfield.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; dcaplan.mpp@liberal.ola.org; dcaplan.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; acarroll.mpp@liberal.ola.org; acarroll.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; mchan.mpp@liberal.ola.org; mchan.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; ted.chudleigh@pc.ola.org; ted.chudleighco@pc.ola.org; mcolle.mpp@liberal.ola.org; mcolle.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; kcraitor.mpp@liberal.ola.org; kcraitor.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; bcrozier.mpp@liberal.ola.org; bcrozier.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; bdelaney.mpp@liberal.ola.org; bdelaney.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; vdhillon.mpp@liberal.ola.org; vdhillon.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; jdickson.mpp@liberal.ola.org; jdickson.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; dinovoc-qp@ndp.on.ca; dinovoc-co@ndp.on.ca; ldombrowsky.mpp@liberal.ola.org; ldombrowsky.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; bduguid.mpp@liberal.ola.org; bduguid.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; dduncan.mpp@liberal.ola.org; dduncan.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; garfield.dunlop@pc.ola.org; garfield.dunlopco@pc.ola.org; christine.elliott@pc.ola.org; christine.elliottco@pc.ola.org; kflynn.mpp@liberal.ola.org; kflynn.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; pfonseca.mpp@liberal.ola.org; pfonseca.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; fgelinas-qp@ndp.on.ca; fgelinas-co@ndp.on.ca; jgerretsen.mpp@liberal.ola.org; jgerretsen.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; mgravelle.mpp@liberal.ola.org; hhampton-qp@ndp.on.ca; hhampton-co@ndp.on.ca; hhfort@jam21.net; hhkenora@kmts.ca; ernie.hardeman@pc.ola.org; ernie.hardemanco@pc.ola.org; randy.hillier@pc.ola.org; randy.hillierco@pc.ola.org; ahorwath-qp@ndp.on.ca; ahorwath-co@ndp.on.ca; ehoskins.mpp@liberal.ola.org; ehoskins.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; phoy.mpp@liberal.ola.org; phoy.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; tim.hudak@pc.ola.org; tim.hudakco@pc.ola.org; hjaczek.mpp@liberal.ola.org; hjaczek.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; ljeffrey.mpp@liberal.ola.org; ljeffrey.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; rjohnson.mpp@liberal.ola.org; rjohnson.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; sylvia.jones@pc.ola.org; sylvia.jonesco@pc.ola.org; frank.klees@pc.ola.org; frank.kleesco@pc.ola.org; pkormos-qp@ndp.on.ca; pkormos-co@ndp.on.ca; kkular.mpp@liberal.ola.org; kkular.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; mkwinter.mpp@liberal.ola.org; mkwinter.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; jmlalonde.mpp@liberal.ola.org; jmlalonde.mpp.alexandria@liberal.ola.org; jmlalonde.mpp.hawkesbury@liberal.ola.org; jleal.mpp@liberal.ola.org; jleal.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; dlevac.mpp@liberal.ola.org; dlevac.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; lisa.macleod@pc.ola.org; lisa.macleodco@pc.ola.org; amangat.mpp@liberal.ola.org; amangat.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; rmarchese-qp@ndp.on.ca; rmarchese-co@ndp.on.ca; gerry.martiniuk@pc.ola.org; gerry.martiniukco@pc.ola.org; dmatthews.mpp@liberal.ola.org; dmatthews.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; bmauro.mpp@liberal.ola.org; bmauro.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; dmcguinty.mpp@liberal.ola.org; dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; tmcmeekin.mpp@liberal.ola.org; tmcmeekin.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; pmcneely.mpp@liberal.ola.org; pmcneely.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; mmeilleur.mpp@liberal.ola.org; mmeilleur.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; norm.miller@pc.ola.org; norm.millerco@pc.ola.org; norm.millerco@pc.ola.org; pmiller-qp@ndp.on.ca; pmiller-co@ndp.on.ca; jmilloy.mpp@liberal.ola.org; jmilloy.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; cmitchell.mpp@liberal.ola.org; cmitchell.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; rmoridi.mpp@liberal.ola.org; rmoridi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; julia.munro@pc.ola.org; julia.munroco@pc.ola.org; bill.murdoch@ontla.ola.org; bill.murdochco@ontla.ola.org; ynaqvi.mpp@liberal.ola.org; ynaqvi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; dorazietti.mpp@liberal.ola.org; dorazietti.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; john.otoole@pc.ola.org; john.otooleco@pc.ola.org; jerry.ouellette@pc.ola.org; jerry.ouelletteco@pc.ola.org; lpendergast.mpp@liberal.ola.org; lpendergast.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; speters.mpp@liberal.ola.org; speters.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; gphillips.mpp@liberal.ola.org; gphillips.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; mprue-qp@ndp.on.ca; mprue-co@ndp.on.ca; spupatello.mpp@liberal.ola.org; spupatello.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; sqaadri.mpp@liberal.ola.org; sqaadri.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; kramal.mpp@liberal.ola.org; kramal.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; dramsay.mpp@liberal.ola.org; dramsay.mpp.kirklandlake@liberal.ola.org; dramsay.mpp.newliskeard@liberal.ola.org; lrinaldi.mpp@liberal.ola.org; lrinaldi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; truprecht.mpp@liberal.ola.org; truprecht.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; lsandals.mpp@liberal.ola.org; lsandals.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; joyce.savoline@pc.ola.org; joyce.savolineco@pc.ola.org; msergio.mpp@liberal.ola.org; peter.shurman@pc.ola.org; peter.shurmanco@pc.ola.org; msmith.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; gsorbara.mpp@liberal.ola.org; gsorbara.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; csousa.mpp@liberal.ola.org; csousa.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; norm.sterling@pc.ola.org; norm.sterlingco@pc.ola.org; tabunsp-qp@ndp.on.ca; tabunsp-co@ndp.on.ca; htakhar.mpp@liberal.ola.org; htakhar.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; mvanbommel.mpp@liberal.ola.org; mvanbommel.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; jwilkinson.mpp@liberal.ola.org; jwilkinson.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; jim.wilson@pc.ola.org; jim.wilsonco@pc.ola.org; elizabeth.witmer@pc.ola.org; elizabeth.witmerco@pc.ola.org; kwynne.mpp@liberal.ola.org; kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; john.yakabuski@pc.ola.org; john.yakabuskico@pc.ola.org; dzimmer.mpp@liberal.ola.org; dzimmer.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

Step 2:
Don't forget to fill out your subject line:

I oppose your decision to condemn IAW. I support free speech in Ontario.

Step 3:

Cut and paste the message below. Feel free to personalize it with your own words. And don't forget to include your name at the bottom. If you know the name of your MPP, address your e-mail to her/him.

Dear Members of the Provincial Parliament:

I am writing in response to your decision to support a motion on February 25 that condemns Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW), a series of campus-based educational events that takes place annually on campuses all over the world.

The motion, which was introduced by Progressive Conservative MPP Peter Shurman (Thornhill), is an unprecedented attack on free speech in Ontario. I condemn and oppose your decision to support such a motion.

IAW has grown in size and scope since it was first launched on campuses in Toronto in 2005, and now includes dozens of events in over 50 cities worldwide including 3 cities in South Africa. IAW is marked by its inclusive and diverse nature, its respect for discussion and debate, and its call for peaceful solutions to the Israel-Palestine conflict. IAW has been endorsed and supported by dozens of organizations including student unions, trade unions, faith groups, and Jewish solidarity organizations.

The term "apartheid" is not a hateful one, nor is it on the "margins" of mainstream debate. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter uses the term in his best-selling book Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid. South African anti-apartheid campaigners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Willie Madisha, regularly use the term "apartheid" to describe the conditions in which Palestinians live both inside Israel and in the Occupied Territories. The term is also used widely inside Israel itself: former Israeli Prime Minister and current Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak recently used the term in a speech about the consequences of stalled peace talks.

The conditions in which Palestinians live clearly meet the definition of "apartheid" as described by the United Nations. The increasingly differential system of roads, housing, laws, access to resources, basic rights, living conditions, and quality of life between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians all point to a system of apartheid. Palestinians have the right to describe these conditions in the way they experience them.

You may disagree with such an analysis, but you have no right to limit or restrict Palestinians and their supporters from expressing a completely legitimate perspective. Your decision to condemn IAW represents a serious setback for free speech in Ontario, and should be reconsidered. The Ontario legislature should not be in the business of censorship.

I urge to rethink your position, to become more informed about this issue, and to demonstrate support for free speech in Ontario – including for those political perspectives with which you might disagree.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Step 4:
Press send!
If you get a response from you MPPs, please let us know. Forward e-mail responses to endapartheid@riseup.net

Israeli Apartheid Week begins next week on campuses across Ontario despite this motion. For city schedules please check: www.apartheidweek.org
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Private Members Motion 93 Reads
That, in the opinion of this House, the term Israel Apartheid Week is condemned as it serves to incite hatred against Israel, a democratic state that respects the rule of law and human rights, and the use of the word 'apartheid' in this context diminishes the suffering of those who were victims of a true apartheid regime in South Africa.