PALESTINE SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT

The 'Palestine Solidarity Movement (PSM)' is a student organization in the United States which was established in 2000 after the start of the Al-Aqsa Intifada in Palestine. The organization aims to use "divestment as a tactic to non-violently influence a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." Aside from divestment from Israel, the group focuses on ending U.S. aid to Israel and a Right of Return. PSM tactics include: education; public demonstrations and rallies; and civil disobedience or direct action.
The PSM has not taken any policy stances for adoption by the Palestinian people, and therefore refuses to denounce terrorism by Palestinians, stating that "as a solidarity movement, it is not our place to dictate the strategies or tactics adopted by the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation."
The organization has been known to be controversial for its stance against Israel and its calls for divestment from Israel, and its refusal to denounce the use of terrorism by Palestinians.
The Anti-Defamation League has held numerous protests against PSM activities. University presidents have received criticism for hosting the conferences, and have usually had to respond to the events through websites and statements.

Contents
Divisions
Conferences
See also
External links

Divisions


There have been some divisions in the PSM and there have been some other groups that have been formed. The largest of these is the New Jersey Solidarity group, which is centered at Rutgers University. They have held their own separate conferences and events.

Conferences


PSM holds annual conferences at universities throughout America.
;Inaugural Divestment Conference
''University of California, Berkeley, California - February 16-18, 2002''
The first national PSM conference was initiated by Students for Justice in Palestine, a student group from the University of California, Berkeley, in conjunction with the San Francisco chapter of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee. One of the resolutions adopted at the first PSM conference expressed an unreserved support for the Intifada: "We, the national student movement for solidarity with Palestine, declare our solidarity with the popular resistance to Israeli occupation, colonization, and apartheid."
;Second Annual Divestment Conference
''University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan - October 12-14, 2002''
The second national PSM conference, held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, attracted over 400 people, included former University of South Florida Professor Sami al-Arian. Representatives of Al-Awda sold T-shirts with the inscription "Intifada! Palestine will be free from the river to the sea." The slogan was also shouted by conference-goers confronting a handful of protesters outside the building.
;Third Annual Divestment Conference
''Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey -- October 10-12, 2003''
[1]
''Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, - November 7-9, 2003''
The OSU conference was hosted by the local Committee for Justice in Palestine and attracted over 200 people. Attendees reaffirmed their commitment to the movement's guiding principles. Resolutions adopted during the conference included a commitment to the divestment campaign and an affirmation of the movement's claim that "Zionism is racism." Conference attendees also reaffirmed the movement's goals: the right of return for Palestinians, a "full decolonization of all Palestinian land" and an end of the Israeli occupation.
;Fourth Annual Divestment Conference
''Duke University, Oct. 15-17, 2004''
[2]
;Fifth Annual Divestment Conference
''Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. - February 17-19''
[3]

See also



List of Palestinian solidarity organizations

External links



Palestine Solidarity Movement

Anti-Defamation League Page on the Palestine Solidarity Movement

Duke University's site on the Palestine Solidarity Movement Conference

Georgetown University's site on the Palestine Solidarity Movement Conference

New Jersey Solidarity

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