CFA-LA endorses Ceasefire in Israel & Palestine
November 1, 2023
Dear Colleagues,
The Executive Board of the California Faculty Association, Cal State Los Angeles Chapter (CFA-LA) endorses the following statement: “The US Labor Movement Calls for Ceasefire in Israel and Palestine” (see below). As an antiracism and social justice union, we affirm the racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, ability, political, and religious diversity of Cal State LA’s faculty and students. Together, we mourn the tragic loss of innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives and oppose all forms of hateful rhetoric and actions, whether they are instigated by antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Blackness, or transphobia. Moreover, we believe that the violence “must stop so that negotiations for an enduring peace can proceed.” Thus, we amplify the call for an immediate ceasefire of the indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza.
Even as we endorse the statement, CFA-LA’s EBoard remains steadfast in our support for individual faculty member’s academic freedom and first amendment rights. The assault on civil liberties that’s currently being codified into national law by the United States government is alarming. We are also particularly concerned that some Cal State LA faculty are currently being doxed by off-campus groups and facing university scrutiny due to their research and political affiliations. While we will remain on guard against hate, racism, and xenophobia, our union must also defend the right of faculty and students to say and organize as they choose.
In Solidarity,
CFA-LA Executive Board
The US Labor Movement Calls for Ceasefire in Israel and Palestine
We, members of the American labor movement, mourn the loss of life in Israel and Palestine. We express our solidarity with all workers and our common desire for peace in Palestine and Israel, and we call on President Joe Biden and Congress to push for an immediate ceasefire and end to the siege of Gaza. We cannot bomb our way to peace. We also condemn any hate crimes against Muslims, Jews, or anyone else.
In issuing this call, U.S. unions are joining the efforts of 13 Congressmembers and others who are calling for an immediate ceasefire.
The basic rights of people must be restored. Water, fuel, food, and other humanitarian aid must be allowed into Gaza, power must be restored, and foreign nationals and Palestinians requiring medical care must be allowed out of Gaza.
The Israeli hostages taken by Hamas must be immediately released. Both Hamas and Israel must adhere to standards of international law and Geneva Convention rules of warfare concerning the welfare and security of civilians.
There must be a ceasefire in Gaza. The cycle of violence must stop so that negotiations for an enduring peace can proceed.
The U.S. must act. We call on President Biden to immediately call for a ceasefire.
The road to justice cannot be paved by bombs and war. The road to peace cannot be found through warfare. We commit ourselves to work in solidarity with the Palestinian and Israeli peoples to achieve peace and justice.
Union members come from diverse backgrounds, including Jews, Muslims, and Middle Eastern communities. The rising escalation of war and arms sales doesn't serve the interests of workers anywhere. In the end, we all want a place to call home and for our children to be safe. Working people around the world want and deserve to live free from the effects of violence, war and militarization.
Thousands of Americans have joined the groundswell of global solidarity demanding a ceasefire now.
It's the labor movement's turn to make our voices heard and demand a ceasefire. Together, we can stand for peace, justice, and a better future for working people everywhere.
Please sign this call and add your name to a growing list calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Signed by:
UFCW 3000
UE (United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America)
IBEW Local 520
Industrial Workers of the World Mid-Valley Branch
Labor Express Radio
NJ State Industrial Union Council
Pride at Work/Eastern Massachusetts
PNWSU 3000
Restaurant Workers United
San Antonio Alliance of Teachers & Support Personnel NEA/AFT Local 67
Unemployed Workers United
UAW Region 6