The Campus Faculty Association firmly condemns the repressive actions of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign police and administration against the peaceful protests involving students, faculty, and staff in support of Palestine. We denounce the suppression of the university community’s rights to protest and free speech and the silencing of academic freedom around the question of Palestine. We stand against the violations of systems of shared governance.

 CFA also condemns the University administration’s decision to force building and service workers to participate in the suppression of these protests by removing structures and other protestors’ property. These actions were potentially dangerous, illegal and/or violated workers’ rights to political opinions. They were a taken in explicit violation of union contracts and the workers’ own wishes. 

University workers’ rights and bargained contracts must be honored. Academic freedom and freedom of speech for students, staff, and faculty must be respected. The Campus Faculty Association calls for the University to uphold these fundamental rights and take concrete steps to ensure justice and accountability for these transgressions.