I am disappointed by the vote of “no confidence” in UMass Chancellor Javier Reyes. Student protesters presented a list of demands to the chancellor, most to end ties with military corporations, with the (presumed) goal of limiting arms supply to Israel. (These corporations supply weapons to Ukraine for their defense of Russia’s brutal invasion.)
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s brutal invasion and destruction of Gaza has created an epic humanitarian crisis with massive civilian deprivation and death while Hamas uses civilians as shields, refusing to surrender and release the remaining hostages. Netanyahu prolongs this war to hold onto power and pander to his fanatic faith base to avoid prison (sound familiar?) while thousands of its citizens march daily protesting his government.
Until Citizens United is repealed by the U.S. Supreme Court, the military-industrial complex, along with other corporations and domestic oligarchs, has enormous power over our government and thus is impervious to such protests. To clean our corrupted government requires flipping/expanding the court. If Sen. Bernie Sanders supporters and independents had voted for Hillary Clinton that could have already been accomplished. That mistake cannot be repeated.
The Hamas/Gaza conflict is complex and university presidents (and POTUS) have been placed in a “damned if you do/damned if you don’t” position. Who benefits from these divisions? MAGA/GOP and Putin.
MAGA/GOP can win by dividing Democrats and suppressing votes. Those who threaten to withhold their Biden vote because of Gaza are foolish, naive, and selfish. Failure to vote blue is a vote for the demented neo-Nazi despot and a corrupt MAGA SCOTUS for another generation.
Abbie Jensen
Amherst