[Peace-discuss] CCR: Pack the court: Salaita Freedom of Information Hearing

[Robert Naiman]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Center for Constitutional Rights <alerts at ccrjustice.org>
Date: Wed, Jun 10, 2015 at 8:52 PM
Subject: Pack the court: Salaita Freedom of Information Hearing
To: Robert Naiman <naiman at justforeignpolicy.org>


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Dear Robert,

Please pack the court in Champaign, IL, this Friday, where CCR’s co-counsel
at Loevy & Loevy will argue for the release of documents under the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) in the case of Professor Steven Salaita
<http://ccrjustice.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=653&qid=302336>.
Salaita was fired from his tenured position at the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) for his personal tweets condemning Israel’s
attack on Gaza last summer.  The FOIA litigation was filed to find out the
full story behind the University’s decision to fire Professor Salaita,
including the role played by donor pressure.  The University filed a motion
for summary judgment, arguing that the request is “unduly burdensome.”
Lawyers for Professor Salaita, who are also seeking summary judgment, will
argue that the public’s interest in disclosure of this information
outweighs the burden on the University of producing it.  *Please show your
support by attending the hearing.*

*WHAT*: Hearing in FOIA litigation on behalf of Professor Salaita

*WHEN*: Friday, June 12 at 9:30 AM CST (arrive early)

*WHERE*: Circuit Court Sixth Judicial Circuit, Champaign County, 101 E.
Main St., Urbana, IL 61801 - Courtroom B, 3rd Floor

Professor Salaita, a nationally recognized scholar, was offered a tenured
position at the UIUC’S American Indian Studies Program.  After he and his
wife resigned their jobs at Virginia Tech University and prepared to move
their family, Salaita was abruptly informed he was being terminated two
weeks before he was due to start teaching.  University officials have since
acknowledged that their decision was based on Professor Salaita’s tweets
critical of Israeli government atrocities in Gaza, which they deemed
“uncivil.”  Firing Professor Salaita because some were offended by his
personal tweets violates the First Amendment and principles of academic
freedom.  Documents obtained through other FOIA requests reveal pressure
from donors who threatened to withdraw financial support from the
University if it did not fire Salaita.  This pressure is consistent
with broader
efforts
<http://ccrjustice.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=654&qid=302336>
by outside groups to silence Palestinian human rights activists on campuses
all across the country.

More than 5,000 academics have pledged to boycott UIUC, resulting in the
cancellation of dozens of scheduled talks and conferences. Sixteen academic
departments have voted no confidence in the University administration, and
multiple academic organizations have publicly condemned UIUC’s action.  A
public petition
<http://ccrjustice.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=655&qid=302336>
for Professor Salaita's reinstatement has garnered over 19,000 signatures.

You can learn more about Professor Salaita’s case and CCR’s other work in
support of activists targeted for their support of Palestine by visiting
our Palestinian Solidarity
<http://ccrjustice.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=656&qid=302336>
and Criminalizing Dissent
<http://ccrjustice.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=657&qid=302336>
issue pages.

*We hope to see you on June 12!*

Thank you for your continued support.
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