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{mosimage}Only days before the opening events of the International Israeli Apartheid Week, the Concordia University administration has banned Montreal organizers Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights Concordia (SPHR) from using the space which had been confirmed through the University for over two weeks. The administration made no effort to consult SPHR, and now, almost 48 hours later, has given no adequate explanation or provided an alternate venue. We are taking Concordia.s DeSeve Cinema as an alternate venue and demand answers to the questions below. 1. What are the security concerns specific to the Samuel Bronfman building? 2. Why was the decision not made when we originally booked the room, but so close to the event as to put it in jeopardy? 3. Why has your reasoning for not letting us use the room changed in the last 48 hours? 4. Due to the insubstantial nature of the administrations objections, is there any reason to believe that this intervention was not motivated by external pressures? 5. If the Universities intentions are honest, why was SPHR not consulted?
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights Concordia has been banned by the administration, without explanation or consultation, from using the Samuel
Bronfman Building at Concordia University, to host an upcoming event, Israeli Apartheid Week 2006. SPHR booked and received a confirmation to hold Apartheid Week at the Samuel Bronfman building about two weeks ago. All other venues with
similar capacity (100-200 people), were booked, and Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR - the organizing group) was left with the
Bronfman as the only respectable venue suitable for the speakers we will be hosting (Mr. Toufic Haddad, Dr. Ismail Zayid and Dr. Uri Davis). After receiving the confirmation for the bookings, SPHR began publicizing the event. On Tuesday night, only 6 days before the start of our event,
SPHR received an email from Mr. Jacques Lachance stating that: 'Samuel Bronfman Building is not a satisfactory and suitable option. providing no
reason or explanation for why the room is not a suitable option.' 'This decision by the Concordia administration to refuse SPHR, an organization under the umbrella of the CSU, the right to use a space that
has already been booked and confirmed, without any consultation or explanation is a clear act of discrimination and a violation of our
freedom of speech and our right to organize' says Tania Tabar of SPHR. 'This action contradicts the values of democracy and freedom of expression
that should be upheld in a University environment. SPHR refuses to accept this act of censorship, and discrimination based on our political
beliefs by the administration .We expect that the Concordia administration treat SPHR as it would any other student organization. It is yet another example
of the silencing of anti-apartheid voices on Canadian campuses.' Israeli Apartheid Week was organized for the first time by the Arab Students. Collective at the University of Toronto making headlines
internationally. This year the event will be held simultaneously across various campuses in Toronto, Montreal, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Oxford (UK)
from February 13th and 18th. This event comes at a crucial time, as Palestinian voters in the West Bank and Gaza have registered a clear rejection of apartheid in the recent
parliamentary elections. The so-called peace process ushered in by the Oslo agreements of 1993 has only delivered increased settlement and
annexation of Palestinian land by Israel, the confinement of the Palestinian population in open air prisons similar to the Bantustans of
Apartheid South Africa, as well as a renewed refusal on Israel.s part to accept its responsibility for the plight of Palestinian refugees. Concordia University.s decision to cancel the room bookings has angered many students and members of the Montreal community. SPHR is demanding that the Concordia administration allow SPHR the right to hold our event in the building that was originally booked and
confirmed, the Samuel Bronfman Building. If not, Lajeunesse must provide a legitimate explanation for the cancellation of the Bronfman room, and we
will hold the event at an alternative campus venue, such as the DeSeve Cinema. SPHR is asking for your support during this crucial time. We ask those who oppose racism, who oppose apartheid, and who oppose the silencing of
freedom of expression, to voice your concern to President Claude Lajeunesse. Please call or email the President of Concordia, Mr. Claude Lajeunesse,
and demand that these questions be answered. 1. What are the security concerns specific to the Samuel Bronfman
building? 2. Why was the decision not made when we originally booked the room,
but so close to the event as to put it in jeopardy? 3. Why has your reasoning for not letting us use the room changed in the
last 48 hours? 4. Due to the insubstantial nature of the administrations objections, is
there any reason to believe that this intervention was not motivated by
external pressures? 5. If the Universities intentions are honest, why was SPHR not consulted?
Telephone: 848-2424 ext 4849
Email:
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For more information contact: Tania Tabar (514)-999-1682
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