We vehemently reject the language of “terrorism” used by the US and Israel to justify the Israeli state killing machine, say faculty members
(Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
The University of Colorado Department of Ethnic Studies has stirred controversy by removing a statement from its website that argued Hamas’s recent attack on Israel should not be labeled as “terrorism.” The department believes that the United States employs this term to rationalize the Israeli state’s violent actions.
The statement, released on October 23, expressed the department’s condemnation of the ongoing settler violence perpetuated by the Israeli state occupation. It firmly stated that the violence inflicted by the state of Israel upon Palestinians in Gaza and other occupied territories cannot be considered a balanced “conflict” between two equally violent sides. Furthermore, the department firmly rejects the use of the term “terrorism” by the US and Israel to justify the Israeli state’s killing machine.
Although the department removed the statement from its website a week later, it did not distance itself from its anti-Semitic rhetoric. Instead, the department explained that it took down the statement due to concerns about the safety of its faculty and students, citing “intersectional oppression and attacks” as the reason.
In an update on October 30, the department stated, “Because the Department of Ethnic Studies and our faculty, staff, and students find ourselves under attack for the statement we had previously shared on our website, we are removing the statement because we do not wish anyone in our community to feel unsafe.” The department condemned the intersectional oppression and attacks faced by its community for exercising their academic freedom.
This decision by the department comes at a time when faculty members at prestigious universities across the country are defending Hamas’s assault on Israel. For instance, over 100 professors at Columbia University signed an open letter characterizing the attack as a “military response” and expressing support for students who labeled the Israeli government as “fascist, racist, and colonial.”
While Columbia University has remained silent on the matter, the University of Colorado has denounced the Department of Ethnic Studies statement. Chancellor Philip DiStefano clarified that the statement “is not an official CU Boulder position on the Israel-Hamas War.” Former GOP senator Cory Gardner also criticized the department, calling its statement a “shameful expression from academics who clearly have no business teaching.”
Despite these developments, University of Colorado professor Arturo Aldama, chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies, and Daryl Joji Maeda, the department’s dean and vice provost of undergraduate education, have not provided any comments on the issue.
The Department of Ethnic Studies, as stated in its mission statement, aims to advance the knowledge, history, and experiences of marginalized communities of color and Indigenous nations. It seeks to challenge and critique all forms of oppression and work towards emancipatory futures for all people. In addition to arguing against labeling Hamas’s actions as ”terrorism,” the department’s October 23 statement also framed the Israel-Hamas conflict as a feminist issue.
“As a department that embraces intersectional, anti-racist, and decolonial feminist, queer, and trans scholarship and activism, we stand in solidarity with the Palestinian Feminist Collective in affirming Palestine as a feminist issue,” the statement declared. “Building upon our commitment to antiracist feminist perspectives in our scholarship and activism, we amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, Arab, Muslim, and Jewish feminist and queer scholars and activists, in support of the long-standing Palestinian struggle for liberation.”
What are some arguments made by academics and activists against the use of the term “terrorism” to describe Hamas’s actions?
Essors from Princeton University signed a letter expressing their support for Palestinian rights and condemning Israeli aggression. This letter argued that Hamas’s actions should not be labeled as “terrorism” but rather as resistance against occupation and oppression.
The controversy surrounding the University of Colorado Department of Ethnic Studies reflects a larger debate over the language used to describe the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The use of the term “terrorism” by the United States and Israel has been called into question by academics and activists who argue that it is a political tool used to legitimize Israeli violence and dehumanize Palestinians.
The department’s statement emphasizes the power dynamics at play in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It argues that the violence inflicted by the Israeli state upon Palestinians cannot be equated with the actions of Hamas, which is often portrayed as a violent extremist group. Instead, it calls for a recognition of the structural violence and oppression faced by Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
The decision to remove the statement from the department’s website is a contentious one. While some argue that it was a necessary step to ensure the safety of faculty and students, others see it as an infringement on academic freedom and a capitulation to pressure from pro-Israel groups.
By removing the statement, the department may have avoided further backlash and potential harm to its members. However, it also opens the door for criticism, as some believe that the department should have stood firmly behind its initial statement and defended its position.
This incident highlights the challenges faced by academics and institutions when engaging with issues related to Israel and Palestine. The Israeli state has consistently labeled its actions as self-defense against terrorism, while Palestinian activists and their supporters argue that it is a form of state-sponsored violence and oppression.
As discussions around the conflict continue, it is crucial to critically examine the language used to describe the actions of both sides. By reframing the conversation and moving away from the use of politically charged terms like “terrorism,” we can foster a more nuanced understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and work towards a just and lasting peace.
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