To the Editor,
The following is a letter of solidarity with Student Senate President Megan Marzec, signed by nearly two dozen organizations.
Over the last weeks, we have been shocked at the deliberate smear campaign, death threats and racist, sexist and Islamophobic comments that Student Senate President Megan Marzec has received over her modified “Ice Bucket Challenge,” in which she expressed her personal concerns over the atrocities that have occurred this summer in Gaza.
We the undersigned, representing hundreds of committed activists from across the state and region, strongly affirm President Marzec’s right to express her opinions without the fear of threats and intimidation. We ask the student bodies of our universities and the members of our communities to stand together, denounce this unacceptable violence, and work to guarantee that the students of our universities receive the freedom of speech and expression that we have been promised. We cannot sit by and allow bullies to silence and intimidate us students as they attack the very foundation of the academic freedom on which our universities claim to pride themselves. We cannot let this happen under our watch.
We stand with President Marzec as she continues to take a stand for justice at Ohio University and internationally.
In solidarity,
The Campaign for BDS at Ohio State, The Committee for Justice in Palestine at Ohio State, Democratic Socialists of Central Ohio, The International Socialist Organization of Cincinnati, The International Socialist Organization of Columbus, The International Socialist Organization of Toledo, Jewish Voice for Peace at the University of Michigan, Palestine Solidarity Group of Columbus, Progressive Peace Coalition of Columbus, SHADES at Ohio State University, Students for Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE) at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Students for Justice in Palestine at Columbia College-Chicago, Students for Justice in Palestine at DePaul University, Students for Justice in Palestine at Kent State University, Students for Justice in Palestine at Loyola University, Students for Justice in Palestine at Marquette University, Students for Justice in Palestine at Northwestern University, Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Kentucky, Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Minnesota, Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Toledo, Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equality (URGE) at the Ohio State University Chapter, Z Collective at Metro Detroit
