PRESS RELEASE: Investigation into racial profiling, violence against students and Israel boycott (South Africa)

On Tuesday the 12th of March 2013 a scheduled performance at Wits University in Johannesburg by Israeli musician, Yossi Reshef, was cancelled due to protests by Wits University students.

The Wits University Student Representative Council (SRC), the official Wits University student governing body and entity representing the largest Wits university constituency, condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of words such as "barbaric" (used by Israeli musician, Yossi Reshef), "Muslim agitators" (used by Wits University Professor Zaidel-Rudolph), "hooligans" (used by Geoff Sifrin, SA Jewish Report Editor), "a pack of baying hyenas frantic for blood" (used by editor of the SA Jewish Report), "thugs", "savages", "monkeys" and other expletives used by members of the Israeli lobby in referring to Wits University students. The use of such terms, all by White people, reminds us far too much of our racist past in which black students and people were reduced to barbarians, thugs, cockroaches etc.

The Wits University SRC calls on Wits University to initiate an immediate and transparent investigation into the evening of the 12th of March 2013 and associated events. The Wits University SRC should be provided the opportunity to contribute to the investigation's Terms Of Reference. The investigation should produce a report on what occurred on Tuesday the 12th of March including investigating:

3. Hence there is no dispute regarding the Israeli government's involvement in the hosting of Israel's Yossi Reshef in South Africa (in violation of the cultural boycott of Israel).

4. The Yossi Reshef concert, was in clear violation of the international cultural boycott of Israel, in that: a) The concert was made possible with Israeli government support and sponsorship through the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria and the Israeli cultural funding entity, Tararam; and, b) Hosting an Israeli artist that has not distanced himself/herself from Israel's illegal Occupation and Apartheid policies.

5. “Overcoming Israel’s unflattering image in the international media is another challenge… booking Israeli acts runs the risk of triggering boycotts…Despite the potential for boycott…Israel’s government should invest more in helping fledgling artists reach concerts abroad as a way to boosting Israel’s image in an organic way rather than with heavy-handed propaganda…Each of them is an authentic cultural ambassador.” (Israel’s Next Export: Edgy Rock? Joshua Mitnick, the Jewish Week). This quote is from an Israeli article that specifically discusses Israeli artists and how they should be used to promote the State of Israel and to undermine the cultural boycott of Israel. The article indicates that one hurdle that such Israeli artists face is “to first get on a plane”. The plane ticket for Yossi Rechef, was provided by the Israeli cultural funding entity, Tararam.

6. All Israeli cultural organizations are complicit and therefore boycott-able, unless there is evidence to the contrary. Yossi Reshef, has not distanced himself from Israel’s Occupation and Apartheid policies. For as long as the Israeli band, artist, cultural worker etc. does not distance themselves we are forced to understand that the Israeli artist, band etc. supports, endorses, and possibly colludes with the Israeli regime.

7. This is similar to inviting a white South African group to London, say, in the 1980s (with or without the group getting Apartheid South Africa government funding) and the group having never taken a public position against apartheid. It would have been boycott-able then and is so now.

8. In 2005, Palestinians called for a boycott of Israel as a non-violent method to bring Israel in line with international law and respect basic human rights. The Palestinian boycott of Israel has been modeled on our successful boycott of Apartheid South Africa, when we insisted that the rest of the world (not necessarily governments, but peace-loving people together with artists, academics and others) boycott all forms of collaboration with Apartheid South Africa.

9. The boycott against Israel has been issued by the largest and widest grouping of Palestinian civil society (including artists and artist groups) and an increasing number of progressive Israelis also back the boycott. International musicians, artists, and bands who have responded and respected the cultural boycott of Israel include Stevie Wonder, Gil Scott-Heron, Elvis Costello, Harry Belafonte, Danny Glover, director John Greyson, the Pixies, Massive Attack, Faithless, Gorillaz Sound System, and the Klaxxons.

10. In 2012, the Wits University Student Representative Council adopted a full academic and cultural boycott of Israel in line with the call from Palestinians for such a boycott.

11. In line with last year's Wits University SRC boycott of Israel resolution, on the 22nd of February 2013, the Wits University SRC formally communicated (well in advance) with one of the hosts of Yossi Reshef's concert, the Wits University Theater, that the hosting of such a performance was in violation of both the cultural boycott of Israel as well as the Wits University SRC's support for and endorsement of the cultural boycott of Israel.

12. The Wits University SRC was then referred by the Wits University Theater to Professor Malcolm Nay of the Wits University Music Department. The Wits University SRC immediately forwarded a letter to Professor Nay that same day but received no response on the matter. On the 25th of February 2013 the Wits University SRC sent a follow-up email on this matter but received no response. The Wits University SRC had also repeatedly tried to make telephonic contact with Professor Nay, but again to no avail.

13. The Wits University SRC also raised its concerns with the Wits University Registrar but received no commitment, direction or clarification from this office or any other member of the Wits University Management.

14. The Wits University SRC followed and exhausted all necessary procedures and channels by, for example, contacting the relevant people first as well as trying to engage with the Wits University Management.

15. The Wits University SRC is deeply disappointed and concerned that neither the Wits University Music Department nor the Wits University Management responded to the Wits University SRC's written complaints nor provided any directions or clarification.

16. This treatment by the Wits University Management (not to engage with the official student representative body, the Wits University SRC) is highly regrettable and the Wits SRC believes that the incidents of Tuesday the 12th of March could have been avoided if there was proper engagement by the Wits University Management with students.

17. In fact, the 2009 Budlender Report has previously criticized the Wits University Management for not engaging prior to protests and only responding after. The Wits University has failed students in not protecting and promoting the right to expression and protest whilst the university prioritizes the issuing of statements in support and protection of external parties that were using the university.

18. The 2009 Budlener Report also states that: "the University should make it a condition of letting its venues that the organisers give it prompt notice if any of the proposed speakers or activities are likely to give rise to controversy which requires the University either to consider whether special security arrangements should be made, or to consider whether it will permit the person concerned to speak on the campus, or the activity in question to take place on the campus. I expect that in making such decisions Wits would, consistently with its traditions and values, in general seek to promote freedom of expression. One can however think of examples of situations where a speaker or activity might be so offensive that the University might choose to specify that the event will not be permitted to take place if that person is invited to speak or that activity is planned."

20. The Israeli musician, Yossi Reshef, has admitted in an oped article published in the City Press that he himself was warned by his local hosts that there would in fact be protests. In addition, Wits University lecturer, Professor Zaidel-Rudolph, has also said that she too was aware that the Israeli musician's event will draw protests. If these concerns were raised with the Wits University Management then why was there no engagement whatsoever with the Wits University SRC?

21. Furthermore, the 2009 Budlener Report confirms the University's right to have turned down this event given the letters of protests that were submitted by the SRC.

C. ON THE DAY OF THE PROTEST - Racial profiling of Wits University students by organizers of pro-Israeli event

22. On the day of the Israeli concert, at 19h00, a Black Muslim female Wits University SRC member, who had a purchased and valid ticket, was prevented from entering the concert venue.

23. This racial profiling of Wits University students is unacceptable, particularly when white concert-goers were allowed unfettered access.

24. Furthermore, a Black Muslim staff member was also briefly denied entry.

25. These incidents of racial profiling at Wits University, raised above, are a sad reminder of the racist treatment that took place at another pro-Israeli event in August 2009 at the Wits University Medical School Campus and that resulted in the 2009 Budlender Report.

26. In 2009, due to allegations of racial and religious discrimination at a pro-Israeli conference, the Limmud Conference, Wits University launched an independent investigation into the controversial events. The resulting report, compiled by respected human rights advocate, Geoff Budlender, was released on the 26th of November 2009 wherein it confirmed acts of racial profiling by the pro-Israeli conference and its private security (the CSO). The report quotes numerous factual accounts of such racial treatment and the trauma experienced; one Wits University staff member stated that the conduct of a Limmud‐hired security official “made her think of the apartheid days”.

D. ON THE DAY OF THE PROTEST - Private security and calling of SAPS

27. During the protest of Tuesday the 12th of March 2013, police were called onto campus due to the student demonstration against the Israeli musician performing at Wits University in violation of the cultural boycott of Israel.

28. The Wits University SRC, commends, the Student Development and Leadership Unit (SDLU), particularly Ms Lamese Abrahams, who -in line with Wits University protocol- turned away the police that were wrongly called onto campus.

29. The calling of police onto campus is strongly discouraged as our university's Campus Control security personnel are responsible for dealing with peaceful demonstrations such as the one from Tuesday the 12th of March. External organizations such as the Israeli embassy (who was co-hosting the Israeli musician) and others should not disrespect our campus protocol and practices. The Wits University SRC again insists that our University should not allow the Israeli Embassy nor its supporters (such as Tararam, the SA Jewish Board of Deputies or the SA Zionist Federation) to host events on our campus due to their disrespect and disregard of Wits University practice and protocol.

30. In addition to the calling of police by the Israeli concert organizers it is also regrettable that the the Israeli concert organizers arranged their own (non-University) private security. The Wits University SRC demands a full investigation into this private security and whether all proper procedures were followed. The 2009 Budlender Report clearly recommends that Wits University does not allow such external security onto its campus.

31. The external security, racial profiling and lack of engagement by Wits University Management seriously added to the tension of the protest on the 12th of March 2013.

E. ON THE DAY OF THE ISRAELI CONCERT - inside the concert venue

32. The students who were protesting outside the Israeli concert at Wits, at approximately 19h15, then entered the building where the concert was taking place.

36. The Wits University SRC demands a full investigation into the organizers and concert-goers conduct and for assault charges to be laid with the police.

37. Whilst students were inside the venue they proceeded with a non-violent protest (singing and chanting). At this point the guests of the Israeli concert felt that the event was disrupted and left the venue. The concert was subsequently cancelled. Students continued to sing and then dispersed peacefully.

38. The University Wits SRC stands firmly behind students who have insisted that there were no forms of violence or intimidation by students against concert-goers. Proof of such violence or intimidation should immediately be taken to Wits University Campus Control and other relevant authorities, until such proof is provided, pro-Israeli supporters should refrain from making baseless allegations to the media and to other platforms.

39. We call on Wits University Management to join us in condemning the use of terms such as "barbaric" (used by Israeli musician, Yossi Reshef), "Muslim agitators" (used by Wits University Professor Zaidel-Rudolph), "hooligans" (used by Geoff Sifrin, SA Jewish Report Editor), "a pack of baying hyenas frantic for blood" (used by editor of the SA Jewish Report), "thugs", "savages", "monkeys" and other expletives used by members of the Israeli lobby in referring to Wits University students. The use of such terms, all by White people, reminds us far too much of our racist past in which black students and people were reduced to barbarians, thugs, cockroaches etc.

40. Rather than investigating the racism, violence and misconduct by the hosts of the Israeli concert at Wits, the Wits University Management has indicated that it wishes to punish the Wits students for their protest. This is regrettable as it chills Freedom of Expression. Wits University has an obligation to protect student rights to free speech, protest and others forms of expression. The Wits University also has the obligation to protect students from racist speech and violence.

41. Finally, the Wits University SRC would like to commend each and every student that was part of the protest on Tuesday the 12th of March as well as other protests that took place across the country by students against the hosting of Israel's Yossi Reshef (in Stellenbosch as well as in Grahamstown). Such protest action, the Wits SRC believes, was carried out in the best tradition of South African protest. We recall how Apartheid South African rugby and cricket teams were, for example, forced to cancel their games overseas in Britain, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere due to creative protest, disruption and other brave acts of internationalism.