SUCCESS! UCSB PASSES ANTI-ISLAMOPHOBIA RESOLUTION!

On Wednesday May 4, 2011, the UCSB Legislative Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution to fight Islamophobia and other acts of hatred based on religion.

 

Here is the resolution for you to all see. This is what tolerance and progress looks like!

 

 

 

Recognizing that UCSB is a “UC Against Islamophobia”

 

Whereas: Islamophobia is defined as ideologies, beliefs, and actions that perpetuate inaccurate and xenophobic views toward the culture and practice of Islam and the personification of its followers, such as being seen as monolithic, seen as a separate and ‘other’ culture that does not share common values, seen as inferior to the west, seen as violent, aggressive, and supportive of terrorism, seen as sexist and oppressive of women, seen as a political ideology used for political advantage, anti Muslim hostility, and exclusionary or discriminatory practices against Muslims from mainstream society, and;

 

Whereas: Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, Muslims, people of Middle Eastern descent, and even those mistaken as such, have been targets of extreme hate and bigotry in our nation and around the world, and;

 

Whereas: With the recent news release of Osama Bin Laden’s death, it is even more crucial today, regardless of our personal opinions toward the US military operation in the Middle East, that we recognize that this military action is not against the Islamic religion, nor its followers, and;

 

Whereas: Our campus and institutions of higher learning should be havens of tolerance and acceptance, where acts of hate and ignorance are not condoned in any regard, and;

 

Whereas: This weekend a group of UC students collectively founded the UC Against Islamophobia site to represent UC solidarity against acts of Islamophobia on our campuses and in our communities, and;

 

Whereas: The site serves as an avenue for discussion, education, and awareness development regarding the acts of hate toward Muslim identifying individuals or groups, and toward students who “appear” to be Muslim identifying, and;

 

Whereas: The site engages in discussion and education through open dialogue by allowing participants to post videos, articles, thoughts, opinions, and stories, regardless of the poster’s political, religious, ethnic identity,

 

Therefore let it be enacted by the Associated Students in the Legislative Council assembled: supports the efforts of the UC Against Islamophobia webpage, and will not tolerate acts of Islamophobia, or any form of hatred based on religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or class, in our campus community. Through this effort we communicate solidarity with our fellow UC students, faculty, and staff that are affected daily by Islamophobic speech and acts.