DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with two student organizers, Chelly from the Cal State LA encampment and Pia from the University of Oregon encampment, discussing their experiences with the student encampments for Palestinian liberation and divestment from Israel. They share the motivations behind starting the encampments, their demands, interactions with university administrations, and lessons learned.
Chelly explains that the Cal State LA encampment, which is ongoing as of day 32, was motivated by built-up frustrations after a strike earlier in the year, as well as inspiration from other encampments. Their demands include financial disclosure, divestment from investments profiting from the genocide in Palestine, severing ties with the military-industrial complex, and reinvestment into student services. She highlights the strong community support they've received.
Pia discusses how the University of Oregon encampment, which lasted 24 days before taking a deal with the administration, initially demanded divestment but faced pushback and condescension from the administration, leading them to scale back their demands. Both organizers emphasize the importance of remaining principled, centering the voices of those most impacted, and maintaining connections with the broader movement.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The student encampments at Cal State LA and University of Oregon were motivated by a desire to pressure their universities into divesting from Israel and supporting Palestinian liberation.
- Both encampments faced pushback and condescension from university administrations, but adopted different approaches in negotiating demands and dealing with escalation tactics.
- Strong community support and centering the voices of those most impacted were crucial to sustaining the encampments and maintaining principled stances.
- Open communication, transparency, and avoiding neutered rhetoric were identified as important lessons for future encampments and activism efforts.
- Connections were drawn between the Palestinian struggle and other movements against imperialism, settler colonialism, and displacement of marginalized communities.
- The episode highlights the bravery and dedication of students in the face of potential repression, as well as the need for continued pressure and struggle for Palestinian liberation.
- Differing relationships with faculty and non-student community members presented both challenges and opportunities for the encampments.
- Learning from past movements, maintaining intersectional connections, and studying universities' responses to previous divestment efforts were emphasized as valuable strategies.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “We started our encampment, I think, on May 2 or slightly beforehand. No, actually, yeah, it was definitely slightly beforehand, but it was in retaliation to our demand, or a demand that we had set previously for May 2 for the university to meet some of the demands that we had set out through previous sit ins, previous die ins that we had done.“ by Pia
- “And as far as our demands, disclosure is the first one. There's some information available online about our university's financial information, but it's not. So it's not clear. Like, they'll say, we have $6 million invested in mutual funds. Okay, which mutual funds? So that our first demand is disclosure.“ by Chelly
- “I guess I'll just say if you want to, if you want to stay connected to our campus, you can follow us on our instagram sjpsula. And yeah, if you're in the area, come visit us. We're open doors to an extent.“ by Chelly
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Episode Information
Revolutionary Left Radio
Revolutionary Left Radio
6/5/24
Students and organizers Cheli and Phia join Alyson and Breht to discuss their different experiences on the front lines of student encampments at Cal State LA and the University of Oregon. Together, they discuss the reasons for their protests, share the differing reactions from university administrations and faculty, and give listeners an inside look at the negotiations, stratagies, and current developments of the encampments - all while highlighting the reason they are doing this in the first place: to help work toward a free and liberated Palestine!
Help baby Fai'a in Gaza get surgery for a genetic disorder HERE
Follow Students for Justice in Palestine at CSU Los Angeles HERE
Outro Song:
"The Sound of War (Remix) by Eddy Mack, Norhan, and Abu Batata
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