Anthropologists for the Boycott of Israeli Academic Institutions heartily congratulates all of the newly elected officers of the American Anthropological Association.
This year, outside groups opposed to Palestinian civil society’s call Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, sought to influence the election by circulating a blacklist of nominees who have expressed support for Palestinian human rights. This attempt to impose a political litmus test on the leaders of our association is part of a larger anti-Palestine intimidation campaign, encompassing attempts to criminalize boycotts, blacklist leftist professors and file frivolous lawsuits against academic associations.
Thankfully, AAA members soundly rejected this intimidation campaign, electing 12 out of 13 candidates included in this failed blacklist (2 of the candidates were running for the same position). We hope that the new AAA officers continue to embody the best traditions of our discipline, including a critical global perspective, a suspicion of authoritarianism and state power, and an inclination to understand and even sympathize with the experiences of oppressed groups, both in Palestine and beyond.
As we approach the Oct. 4th nominations deadline for next year’s AAA elections, we encourage those committed to social justice to get involved in our association. At the same time, we urge the AAA membership to remain vigilant against the ongoing attempts of pro-Israel and other right-wing organizations to intimidate, blacklist, and retaliate against academics who express solidarity with Palestinians and other left-leaning causes.
ARCHIVED: Anthropologists for the Boycott of Israeli Academic Institutions, 2014 - 2016 Campaign 