Students Speak Out

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Students at the University of Bristol

‘I am a Jewish former Bristol student … and I am grateful that there is someone teaching this on campus. I was very disappointed during my time at Bristol that – as an American, many miles away from home – I was precluded from participating in Bristol Jewish life because of my political views. I was shocked how the JSoc used a coordinated effort with UJS to block student government BDS motions from being passed in 2015. I remember vividly a Palestine 101 event that the PalSoc organized which was co-opted by members of the JSoc to “tell both sides of the story” who repeatedly told a classmate of mine from the West Bank that it was “just a fence.”’

‘He is representing the voice of the oppressed that is being shut down.’

‘I had him in my Understanding Terrorism unit and he provided us with the information surrounding Israel and Palestine without pushing any opinion onto us. He allowed us the room to form our own opinions all while making sure to make his students feel comfortable in expressing themselves.’

‘As someone of Jewish heritage and as a student at Bristol, I believe that anti-Zionist academics such as David Miller clearly lay out their rationalist, fact-driven critique of Israel’s brutal militaristic state operations – his lengthy academic career has examined and critiqued the political, power-based functions of the state. The hatred of Jewish people has no place within his analysis, as he has expressed countless times. No one should ever apologise for shining a light on the Israeli state’s international human-rights abuses. Solidarity to Professor David Miller and all academics who continue to do what brilliant scholars do – hold power to account. I also wish to express solidarity and love to all Palestinians and progressive anti-Zionist Jews – I hope for a future where all groups in society can come together to dismantle the barriers of hatred and racism, where absolutely everyone can live freely – putting the fear, anxiety and violence of Israel’s apartheid behind us.’

‘I was taught by David and learnt SO much from him. He’s an exceptional teacher and I will stand by the fact that he is not antisemitic. He taught all of my lessons (including lessons on the Israel/ Palestine conflict and Islamophobia) from an unbiased standpoint. He does not deserve to be under the scrutiny that he is.’

‘Professor David Miller delivered the most inspiring modules during my undergraduate degree in Social Policy at the University of Bristol. His work made me aware of the corrupt powers which govern policy and research in the Western world and how this harms minority groups on a global scale. I believe David Miller’s lectures covered some of the most important topics today, which are often censored from mainstream narratives on policy and practice, such as policy which adds to widespread Islamophobia across Europe and the US. I stand with David Miller, and think it would be a disservice to the institution of higher education if other students did not get to experience the discussion we had throughout these lectures. This attack confirms everything we learnt, in how universities have become institutions which reproduce narratives of the powerful, and the protection of freedom of speech and sharing of knowledge must not be censored.’

‘Everyone has the right to have a different opinion.’

‘I just want to say thank you for having the courage to speak out about Israel’s crimes and its human rights violations. I understand it takes great courage to speak about these issues in academia. I have known about you since I arrived here in Bristol to do my PhD ... In the US, where I used to study, people who criticise Israel are censored and punished, e.g. Prof Cornel West. I saw on Twitter the smear campaign against you recently and my stomach dropped. So sorry. I’ve been to Palestine and spent some weeks in Nablus and visited different parts of the West Bank. I saw first-hand how Israel violates Palestinian human rights every day.’

‘The misuse of serious campaigns against racism to remove a professor is an attack on academic freedom, and an injustice to those who have suffered racial discrimination. The University of Bristol must continue upholding freedom of academic expression.’

‘[Professor Miller] is being unfairly smeared and if his opponents succeed in ousting him they will be emboldened at the cost of the safety and intellectual integrity of our education system and the country at large.’

‘People on both sides are allowed to voice their opinions. I do not believe that Professor David Miller is anti-Semitic; Judaism is different from Zionism. Any definition the University and the IHRA wishes to adopt must not infringe on freedom of speech, which is exactly what Kenneth S. Stern, one of the original drafters of the definition, is strongly opposing.’

‘His points are anti-Zionist, not anti-Semitic.’

‘Professor Miller has spoken out about an injustice ... but did not inflict hate speech on the individual civilians of those countries. Silencing someone for talking about injustice is completely contradictory and unfair, I believe that this professor should keep his position. We should all be taking a stance to become more aware of global issues.’

‘I support him because of his stance on Islamophobia and the atrocities happening in Palestine and being inflicted by the IDF.’

‘They are fake allegations that shouldn’t be allowed to ruin somebody’s career, especially when his life’s work has been opposing the things he has been accused of.’

‘Criticism of Israel is not antisemitism. Academics and students should not be censored for criticising a state.’

‘I do not think that David Miller is being anti-semitic. There is no hate speech in his words. He is expressing his own thoughts like every human being should be able to do. This is called freedom of speech…. If the University of Bristol blame him about his speech then this means [it is] losing its values.’

‘Professor Miller might have been harsh on the state of Israel and its continuous aggression towards the Palestinian people, but he was right to do so.’

Palestinian and Muslim Bristol students

‘I am one of [Professor Miller’s] students ... I wanted to thank you for speaking so clearly about an issue that is constantly brushed under the rug in this University for many Muslim students like me. In this institution we are a highly underrepresented community of students compared to many other Russell Group Universities and it has saddened me that there is no Student Union Muslim representation that would back your realistic and clear opinion. Every day I feel like I am unable to speak freely about issues such as the Palestine-Israeli conflict … Thank you for making me feel more welcome than ever in this university.’

‘I am deeply sorry to hear about the University launching an investigation into such preposterous claims. I just wanted to say that we – I myself a Palestinian student from Ramallah and other Palestinian and Arab students from the diaspora – stand with Professor Miller and are very grateful for his work, support and commitment to academic integrity and freedom.’

‘[I support Professor Miller because] he defends my cause as a Palestinian, and nobody should be punished for speaking out against Zionist apartheid.’

‘[I support Professor Miller] because freedom of speech includes speaking about oppression and being able to research its roots. Having Yossi Kuperwasser on campus is ‘fine’, after he literally called Palestinian youth ‘terrorists’, but researching a colonial project is not? That is unacceptable. As a Palestinian student this means that Bristol is not a welcoming place to us or to other groups of colour as the university continues to stand with our oppressor.’

‘He stands against tyranny and oppression that no nation or peoples should endure. All forms of discrimination should be condemned.’

‘Why should he be silenced when he’s speaking the truth and against Islamophobia?’

‘It takes a lot to speak the truth if it goes against yourself or everyone around you. It takes a lot to speak up for voiceless suffering humans and to empathise with them as what they are – humans. Human beings that bleed the same blood. Human beings getting killed and persecuted, spilling the same blood we would if we were in their situation. We thank Prof. Miller for not being submissive to injustice.’

‘Professor Miller’s comments were not anti-Semitic in nature. He discussed the State of Israel and their wrongdoings on the Palestinian people. He presented facts, not opinions. [Should he be forced] to resign the University of Bristol would create an environment where students and staff are not allowed to speak up against the apartheid state of Israel. Forcing Professor Miller to resign because he is anti-Zionist only furthers the propaganda to silence anyone who dares to speak up against the criminal, illegal acts of the State of Israel, it creates an unsafe space for Palestinian students, anyone that supports the Palestinians, or those that merely see the injustices being conducted by the State of Israel. Anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism should not be confused. Staff or students voicing evidence-based facts on the State of Israel should not be silenced. Professor Miller deserves to remain on campus.’

‘I believe it is extremely dangerous to conflate the Professor’s evidence-based criticisms of the state of Israel with anti-Semitism. For me this situation highlights that many advocate for free speech only in situations which suit their world view. If we truly believe in the right of free speech (not hate speech), then we MUST not silence the work of those whose statements disagree with us, especially when these statements are not speculative but rather evidence-based.’

‘I heard about the situation with Professor Miller from a friend and I can see that he is only stating facts in his work. Despite it being controversial, it’s to educate the public about the REAL situation between Israel and Palestine that the government is trying so hard to cover up. The Palestinians deserve a better life and I will do anything I can to be one small step towards providing that for them.’

‘His views are based on clear evidence and is unlawfully being punished. This is a matter of fighting for justice.’

‘Professor Miller is someone who simply wants to raise awareness regarding the topic and he has falsely been labelled as anti-Semitic.’

‘Professor Miller is for justice and so am I.’

‘[I support Professor Miller because] all of his work is evidence-based and plus today everyone should be allowed to speak up to defend Palestine! Freedom of speech!’

‘He is being wrongly harassed.’

‘David Miller stands against apartheid, settler colonialism and nationalism which we should all condemn. His critique of an apartheid state mustn’t be confused with anti-Semitism, which undermines victims of true anti-Semitic hatred.’

‘[I support Professor Miller because] I am Palestinian and I support anyone who supports the Palestinian cause.’

‘Professor Miller is free to speak what he believes, and I believe in freedom of speech. Plus, I am a descendant of the oppressed group he fights for.’

‘I am deeply concerned and saddened by the outrageous allegations against Prof Miller.’

‘Israel is an apartheid state. Their treatment of the Palestinian people is horrendous and they commit human rights violations daily. The Palestinian people should get the justice they deserve. The movement is anti-Zionist not anti-semitic.’

‘[I support Professor Miller because] when I read his statements on anti-semitism, it reflects the mismatch in definitions adopted by both the parties. It seems to me that he is not directing it towards the Jewish people as such but towards those involved in the political realm. … The well-being and unity of all students at the university including Muslims and Jews are important. As I earlier mentioned, the difference in definitions seems to have unfortunately ignited matters. This, in my view, should not result in the removal of a professor who is standing up for important causes of another minority group in Muslims. In my view, Professor David Miller should be allowed to continue with his work on Islamophobia, the removal of which is very important for the progress of the Muslim community.’

‘He is being misinterpreted.’

‘He is speaking for the Palestinians.’

‘[We] need to spread awareness about the current situation that is occurring between Israel and Palestine and the injustices that have been happening to the Palestinian population.’

‘[I support Professor Miller because] I believe in academic freedom.’

Students at other UK universities

‘Professor Miller was a very inspiring Professor of Sociology at the University of Strathclyde. I’m due to graduate [with a PhD] and his teaching on post-constructivism contributed to my thinking and practice.’

‘As a young American Jew, I find it truly appalling that valid criticisms of Zionism and Israeli violations of Palestinian Human Rights are conflated with antisemitism. No one deserves to be censored for their beliefs and for putting forward well researched and necessary research.’

‘I was his student when he was teaching at the University of Strathclyde. His course was interesting and book recommendations made an impact on my further research. I hope he will continue his work and Bristol University accepts that his work makes a vital contribution to society.’

‘I know David Miller and I know that he is not an anti-Semite. This witch hunt is designed to halt (through fear of persecution of those prepared to criticise Israel) not just David Miller’s criticisms of the actions of the state of Israel but everyone else’s too. This needs to be challenged, as does the clear and obvious attempts to stop legitimate criticisms of the state of Israel [by] conflation of those criticisms with anti-Semitism. Criticising the state of Israel and the reactionary forces within and outwith Israel is not anti-Semitic. I send my support and solidarity with David Miller.’

‘Professor Miller was a former lecturer of mine at the University of Bath, where he taught a course on ‘Terrorism’. He also accepted an invitation from the University of Bath Amnesty International Society to give what was an excellent and informative talk about pro-Israel bias in the BBC’s reporting on issues relating to the occupation of Palestine. Professor Miller’s teaching was bold, provocative and intellectually challenging. Of all the courses I took in my undergraduate years no other course pushed me harder to examine my own ethical assumptions and political perspective. I didn’t agree with everything he had to say nor do I today, but his teaching was always robustly academic and wedded to a sincere commitment to speaking truth to power. To this day I am still debating in my own head the questions raised in David’s lectures, and am of the view that the time spent in his classes were some of the most valuable of my time in higher education. I am therefore so saddened (but not surprised given the way that cynical accusations of antisemitism have been weaponised in recent years) to hear that there is a concerted effort to have Professor Miller removed from his position. If the University of Bristol bows to this pressure they will be making a profound mistake. As a former student, I am of the view that any institution with Professor Miller in its employ is deeply privileged. Solidarity!’

‘It is not discriminatory to name the atrocities that the Israeli state is doing to Palestinians. This is not to blame the Jewish community as a whole. There are many Jewish supporters of Palestinians who are not offended by the word ‘Zionist’ as they do not identify themselves with the movement. Freedom of speech is at stake and it must be taken back. We can all be David Miller at some point.’

‘I have known Professor Miller since my student days and have always felt that he operated from a strict moral and ethical code. He has always challenged oppression and argued for freedom of speech and is now the victim of those opposed to these perspectives.’

‘Professor Miller has both a right and a duty to engage in political and academic expression which challenges systems of apartheid and oppression. This right must be vigorously and steadfastly defended against anti-democratic attacks.’

‘[I support Professor Miller because] I believe in freedom of speech, whatever institution or community. Everyone has the right of opinion or belief, whether perceived right or wrong. Opinions open up possibilities of debate, whether one agrees or not. Universities should be the place where freedom of speech is encouraged rather than punished. Ability to speak freely is a basic human right.’

‘The allegations against Professor Miller are clearly a blatant attack on academic freedom aimed at censoring student learning, teaching and engagement on contentious issues. These ideologically and politically driven allegations appear to be a sustained attempt to have Professor Miller dismissed from his job. If the University goes down this road, it will set a dangerous precedent in failing to protect academic freedom, prevent the learning and teaching of ‘sensitive’ topics within the curriculum, and also deprive students of research-led teaching by a Professor who is internationally recognised and respected in his field. This route would be an utterly shameful route for the University of Bristol to go down and not, I may add, one that would be in its interests to do. The political fallout would be significant, and the University’s reputation also damaged by its failure to stand up to a particular lobby of interests and to protect academic freedom and freedom of academic discussion in degree studies.’

Palestinian and Muslim UK students

‘As a Palestinian, Muslim student, it is crucial for me to voice my support for Prof Miller as the attacks against him are part of a wider pattern of abuse and censorship of scholars and activists who are critical of Israel and its ideology, Zionism. If we allow this censorship to continue and escalate, especially under a criminal Tory government, it could eventually lead to a situation where we are unable as a society to criticise state-sponsored violence and oppression.’

‘His work is not of an anti-Semitic nature. A campaign to silence him goes against freedom of speech, an idea all university learning should be predicated on.’

‘I am a Palestinian woman who was born in the Gaza Strip. I began my journey towards a law career because I remember so clearly what it feels like to have my human rights being taken away from me as a child. Now living in the UK, I wonder why Israel is allowed to enforce a cruel oppressive apartheid system. I wonder why my right to return to my land is not granted. Palestinians have been suffering for so long, and I applaud people like [Professor Miller] who speak out in the name of justice. I will always stand with you.’

‘One of my close friends is being supervised by David Miller for his current dissertation and has nothing but praise for this knowledgeable gentleman. I hope that the situation is dealt with appropriately and Mr Miller’s name is cleared of all negativity.’

‘We have the right as humans and citizens of the UK to exercise our freedom of speech. He did nothing wrong.’

‘Professor Miller should have the freedom of speech to speak out about the major issues that are occurring in order to make a difference.’

‘No one should be made to resign just because they have expressed themselves about an ongoing phenomenon.’

Students at non-UK universities

‘Professor Miller’s research represents an important scholarly contribution to understanding the relationships between interlocking state and corporate power. This is an area that is vitally important for advancing the public interest but which has nevertheless remained under-researched within more mainstream academic literatures. As such, I support his freedom to engage in academic research for the reasons outlined in this letter.’ (Canada)

‘[I support Professor Miller] because the continuous manipulation of truth (criticizing Israel equating antisemitism) by the Israeli lobby is appalling and noxious. A danger to freedom and democracy.’ (France)

Palestinian and Muslim non-UK students

‘[I support Professor Miller] because he doesn’t make anything up, he just expresses what is correct. We are exposed every day to attacks and incursions by the occupation.’ (An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine)

‘I support Prof. Miller because I am against fascism and racism.’ (Greece)

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Students Speak Out

Students at the University of Bristol and beyond speak out in defence of Professor David Miller

Students at the University of Bristol

Students at other UK universities

Students at non-UK universities