Statement on critics of Israeli policy at the University of Massachusetts

In April 2019, three anonymous Jewish students filed a lawsuit to stop the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass Amherst) from hosting an upcoming panel event. Called “Not Backing Down: Israel, Free Speech, and the Battle for Palestinian Rights.” The event was scheduled for May 2019 and was set to feature musician Roger Waters, sportswriter David Zirin, activist Linda Sarsour, and academic Marc Lamont Hill. The student plaintiffs argued that these speakers were not just critical of Israeli policy but also anti-Semitic, and that the panel would be harmful to Jewish students on campus. In response, the university released a statement saying that the event should, and by law must, be allowed to proceed based on free speech grounds. A judge ultimately rejected the suit, and the event went forward.

“UMass Amherst is committed to fostering a community of dignity and respect and rejects all forms of bigotry. The campus is also firmly committed to the principles of free speech and academic freedom. As such, and as is required of a public institution under the First Amendment, UMass Amherst applies a content-neutral standard when making facilities available to outside organizations for the purpose of holding events.”

Full text

• Denies the request to cancel the event, explaining the university’s policy—in accordance with the First Amendment—to remain content-neutral in deciding who can rent and use campus facilities.
• Reaffirms the university’s stance against bigotry as well as its duty to support free speech and the free exchange of ideas.
• Clarifies the university’s view that departmental sponsorship of events does not constitute an endorsement of the views expressed at those events.
• Combats ambiguity by clarifying that the university does not support academic boycotts of any kind.