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<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:8px"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Friends,</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:8px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I am forwarding FYI, a letter from John Huot (whom some of you may know from social justice circles) to the President and Governing Counci</span>l of the University of Toronto as well as the President of the University of St. Michael’s College. I am sending this on with John’s permission.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:8px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">It is a strong letter which demonstrates the power of words well chosen. </span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:8px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Roswita</span></span></span></p>
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<div style="margin:0 0 10px 0;"><b>Sent:</b> Friday, May 10, 2024 at 2:37 PM<br/>
<b>From:</b> "John Huot" <br/>
<b>Subject:</b> U of T alumni letter in support of divestment and the student encampment</div>
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<div class="gmail_attr">To President Meric Gertler and the University of Toronto Governing Council,</div>
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<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size: large;">cc. Dr. David Sylvester, President, University of St. Michael's College</div>
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Sixty-two years ago, I processed across the lawn in front of Convocation Hall along with the graduating class of 1962.<br/>
I have never since been as proud to be a U of T grad as I am now to support the current generation of U of T students in challenging the governing authorities at U of T to take a stand against the “plausible genocide” (ICC) of Palestinians by the Israeli government and its military forces. The “plausible genocide” involves the killing of thousands of civilians and the destruction of housing, infrastructure, and educational, cultural and religious institutions. <br/>
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I am writing this letter to express my firm support of the demands made by the student encampment at the People’s Circle for Palestine:<br/>
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1. Divest from companies and institutions active and complicit in the Israeli occupation and genocide in Palestine, and publicly address the student demands.<br/>
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2. Protect the freedom of speech of students, faculty, and organizations advocating for Palestinian human rights, as well as their right to peaceful protest. This means shielding these community members from harassment, retaliation, censorship, and police violence at all U of T sites.<br/>
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3. Condemn and issue a university-wide public statement addressing the scholasticide against Palestinian educators, students, and the learning infrastructure of Gaza and the West Bank. Equally, we call on the university to condemn the establishment sustaining this catastrophic human condition -- the continued Israeli apartheid system and military occupation of Palestine, and the ongoing genocide it is committing in Gaza:<br/>
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I urge you to engage in good faith dialogue with the encampment students to address how the university will respond positively<span class="gmail_default" style="font-size: large;"> </span>to their demands.<br/>
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I will hold the university authorities to account for upholding the students’ freedom of expression and resisting the pressure to resort to calling armed city police on to campus to bring a peaceful demonstration to a violent end. <br/>
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As an alumnus and a member of U of T's community, I yearn for a future wherein everyone’s humanity is honoured and all life is sacred. May we see it within our lifetime.<br/>
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In justice,<br/>
John Huot, St. Michael’s College, Class of 1962<br/>
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