MOVEMENT FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
PO Box 40921
New York, NY 10304
info@movementforademocraticsociety.org
movementforademocraticsociety.org
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Thomas Good 347.524.5631
Alan Haber 734.657.8083
Jay Jurie 407.323.5247
2006-11-20
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOVEMENT FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY DEMANDS PACE UNIVERSITY RESPECT THE FIRST AMENDMENT
NEW YORK, NY – In a public statement issued on November 15, 2006, the Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS) denounced the actions of Pace University (New York City) in regards to the “planned arrest of five SDS first amendment activists” on November 15, 2006 at the downtown Manhattan campus. The targeting of these activists for their efforts to organize an SDS chapter at Pace was described by MDS as “reprehensible”. President David A. Caputo and the Pace administration “have violated the civil rights of the student population”. MDS, the community based arm of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) added: “we call for David Caputo to step down now.”
The SDS organizers at Pace arrested on November 15th were demonstrating on the campus of the university where they attend classes. At the time of their arrest they were demanding the right to free expression and to speak with President Caputo and Dean for Students Marijo O’Grady for a redress of their grievances. Instead they were arrested on the grounds of the very university they pay to attend.
The progressive community was stunned and reaction was swift. MDS issued a statement immediately which argued: “If a matriculated student cannot express her/his views in a nonviolent manner something is seriously amiss. If Free Expression is denied on the grounds of a college campus where is it protected?”
A number of MDS organizers spoke out in response to the crisis at Pace.
“These are good kids…as a former campus organizer I can only say that, in thirty plus years of activism, I’ve never seen a group of young activists more committed to nonviolent change and radical democracy than Pace SDS. It’s been a real privilege getting to know Brian, Lauren, John, Davey and Cline as a result of this conflict – they are very inspiring and give me, as a father of two young children, hope for the future,” said Thomas Good, Secretary of Movement for a Democratic Society, Inc. “I think the Pace Administration needs to meet with these young SDSers and be big enough to admit that violating their civil rights was a very sad day for Pace University,” he added. “They need to drop all charges, recognize SDS and encourage critical thinking. I fully support the student demands.”
“When students practice free expression and school administrators impose repression, our role is clear: solidarity with the students who refuse to be victims and act with courage in defending all our rights. We need to get the cops off campus now,” said Penelope Rosemont, Co-President of MDS. Rosemont, a longtime Chicago based activist, pointed out that the students are the most forward thinking element of society and as such must be heard by all, especially the Pace administration. “Power to the students!” she added.
Alan Haber, organizer of the original SDS and Co-President of MDS noted that: “President David Caputo must strive to make Pace University a bastion against the militarization of conflict, not a local police substation. This is ‘the decade for the creation of culture of peace and non violence for the children of the world’ according to United Nations resolution 53/25. This overarching task should be integral to the tasks and mission and daily practice of Pace University.” Mr. Haber offered to make himself available to President Caputo to assist him in this effort.
“Caputo’s decision to call in state forces to quell speech on campus is abhorrent,” said Daniel Gross, an organizer with the Industrial Workers of the World who joined the protest outside the first precinct where the Pace students were imprisoned. “It’s time to show Caputo the door and put an end to the NYPD’s pattern of anti-speech arrests.”
MDS has expressed unequivocal support for the student demands which include the following points:
1. The Pace Board of Trustees are hereby called upon to ask for President Caputo’s resignation as University President.
2. The New York State Board of Regents must investigate the Pace University administration and Board of Trustees to ensure it is running in a transparent and legal manner.
3. Pace University must immediately recognize the Pace chapter of Students for a Democratic Society as a student organization- as well as all other pending clubs.
4. Pace University must inform the New York Police Department and the District Attorney’s office that they will not be a complainant in this matter and want to see all of the spurious charges against the SDS activists dropped now. All disciplinary charges against individual SDS members must be dismissed immediately.
5. That attacks on free expression must cease IMMEDIATELY. That students must be allowed to freely pass out literature/flyers, meet on campus, and hold peaceful demonstrations on campus without approval.
MDS joined SDS in requesting that all concerned persons write a letter expressing their support for SDS to the following individuals:
Dr. Aniello A. Bianco
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
C/O Christopher T. Cory, ccory@pace.edu
Dr. David A. Caputo
President, Pace University
president@pace.edu
212-346-1097
Mr. Doug Whiting
Vice President for University Relations
dwhiting@pace.edu
212-346-1396
Dr. Marijo Russell-O’Grady
Dean for Students
mogrady@pace.edu
212-346-1306
Mr. Christopher T. Cory
Executive Director of Public Information
ccory@pace.edu
212-346-1117
Movement for a Democratic Society (MDS) is an education and social action organization dedicated to increasing democracy in all phases of our common life. It seeks to promote the active participation of ordinary people in the formation of a movement to build a society free from poverty, ignorance, war, exploitation, racism and sexism.
For More Information: Contact SDS/MDS New York via email:
nyc@studentsforademocraticsociety.org | info@movementforademocraticsociety.org
Or visit us on the web:
www.movementforademocraticsociety.org