International Solidarity Movement puts Bard College students at risk

IsraPundit ^ | 1/10/11 | Bill Levinson

[Winged Hussar]

Dear President Botstein [Bard College], cc: Board of Trustees c/o Amie McEvoy and Department of Student Activities, and posted online

We understand from http://clubs.bard.edu/ism/ that the International Solidarity Movement is using Bard College facilities and Bard College’s Web site. This organization may endanger the physical safety of your students should they take part in its activities abroad. Here is the executive summary, and independently verifiable details appear below.

(1) The ISM’s willfully reckless activities have already cost the life of one college student, Rachel Corrie of Olympia WA (Evergreen College). The ISM stated in context with Ms. Corrie’s death that it is helpful to their cause for foreign nationals, especially Americans, to be killed in confrontation with Israel’s security forces.

(2) The ISM is on record as advocating terroristic violence.

(3) The ISM acknowledges that it has contacts with organizations that are designated by the U.S. State Department as foreign terrorist organizations.

(4) The ISM, including the chapter at Bard College, is promoting a ship (U.S. Boat to Gaza, called the Audacity of Hope) that will attempt to enter Hamas-occupied Gaza in violation of Israeli law. Personnel on another such vessel, the Mavi Marmara, included armed and violent individuals whose attack on Israeli security personnel resulted in the use of deadly force for self-defense.

(5) The ISM has, outside U.S. jurisdiction, allegedly provided material support to terrorists in the form of “safe house” protection.

[Winged Hussar]

Bard College hosts a chapter of the pro-Palestinian and pro-terrorist International Solidarity Movement; Bard is a small liberal arts college like Evergreen College, alma mater of Rachel Corrie.