Our Events

As we approach November's historic election and the new semester begins on college campuses, all eyes are on the precarious state of American democracy. Top of mind for many are urgent questions about free speech, dissent and growing concerns surrounding the U.S.'s role in Israel-Palestine. Over the past year, those who criticize Israel's conduct in Gaza have faced extreme repression, including expulsions from their universities, dismissal from employment, doxing and, at times, arrest and violence from police.

Join us on Tuesday, Sept 17 at 11:00 am ET / 6:00 pm Jerusalem time to learn more about growing repression of dissent on Israel-Palestine, a trend that has built over decades and escalated in the past year. From anti-boycott legislation to the recent arrests of student protestors, leading experts will examine how these actions impact American democracy and our right to collectively organize on a range of issues – from Palestinian rights to the environment, racial justice, reproductive rights and beyond – at such a critical juncture.

The briefing will feature the following speakers:

• Fadi Abu Shammalah, Journalist from Gaza and Outreach Associate, Just Vision
• Sabiya Ahamed, Staff Attorney, Palestine Legal -Lara Friedman, President, Foundation for Middle East Peace
• Maria LaHood, Deputy Legal Director, Center for Constitutional Rights
• Simone Zimmerman, Director of Strategic Communications & Outreach, Diaspora Alliance and co-founder, IfNotNow
• Lara Friedman, President, Foundation for Middle East Peace
• Suhad Babaa (Moderator), President and Executive Director, Just Vision

This event is sponsored by Just Vision, the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), Jewish Currents, Palestine Legal, the Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP), the Diaspora Alliance and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR).

Join us for a screening of Boycott in Denver at the Sie Film Center (2510 E Colfax Ave). Following the screening, there will be a live Q&A with Lindsey Floyd, Staff Attorney, with the ACLU of Colorado, Elisabeth Epps, a Colorado State Representative who introduced a repeal bill to Colorado's anti-boycott law last legislative session, and Kate Schwartz who works with Just Vision, the team behind the film, Boycott.

For years, lawmakers have been staging unprecedented attacks on racial and social justice advocacy, passing anti-boycott laws designed to silence those working for an equitable future. 

The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) is hosting an urgent and timely conversation for NLG members examining one specific thread of this repression; namely the growing protest movement in the United States against the Israeli government’s war on Gaza. Despite widespread political support in the U.S. for Israel, there is a rising wave of activists demanding an immediate ceasefire and advocating for Palestinian rights. This movement, however, is being met with significant repression, including:

• Expulsion from universities
• Job losses
• Doxxing
• Arrests and police violence

Leading this conversation are senior staff attorney with the ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, Brian Hauss, Just Vision’s Outreach Associate and journalist from Gaza, Fadi Abu Shammalah, Cal Poly Humboldt Professor, Gabi Kirk, and union organizer, Matteo Hintz, with moderation by Just Vision’s Education and Communications Specialist, Daniel Nerenberg.

Join the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in Center City, Philadelphia (1501 Cherry Street) on Friday, September 27th at 6:30 pm ET for a screening of Just Vision’s 2021 documentary Boycott, with doors opening at 6 pm for food and socializing before the film begins. This event is the first in a two-part series examining the role of boycotting and divestment in the lives of everyday people, sponsored by the Unity Caucus, the rank-and-file organization of AFSCME members, the Philadelphia Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), Philly Socialists, the Philadelphia DSA, the Faculty for Justice in Palestine UPenn Chapter and the AFSC. Stay tuned to learn more about part two of the series and the efforts of Philadelphia union members.

Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion with the Director of AFSC's Action Center for Corporate Accountability, Dov Baum, Boycott Protagonist, Bahia Amawi, an AFSCME  union organizer with Green 4 Falasteen, Matteo Hintz and Just Vision’s Public Engagement Associate, Jordana Rubenstein-Edberg.