DePaul University
U.S. Fascism Awareness- What "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" Is Really a Part of & the Need for Resistance
Thursday, October 25
7pm
Schmitt Academic Center (SAC) Room 161
Featuring
Scott Hibbard, DePaul Political Science Department
John K. Wilson, author of Patriotic Correctness: Academic Freedom and Its Enemies and founder of www.collegefreedom.org
Raymond Lotta, Political Economist, author of Dissecting the Bush Doctrine and America in Decline
Brought to you by the Committee to Resist "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" at DePaul
resistifaw@yahoo.com
A great resource on "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" and academic freedom-
www.defendcriticalthinking.org
Report on Monday's Events:
On Monday about 50 people, mostly students, gathered in the quad of DePaul University to speak out against "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week." The DePaul Committee to Resist IFAW, UIC CAN, Northeastern CAN, Columbia College World Can't Wait, and DePaul radical cheerleaders all participated. A DePaul student called for resistance to the "occupation of campuses" by right-wing forces and was followed by an energetic performance by the radical cheerleaders. The crowd then marched to the DePaul IFAW event, "War with Iran?" featuring Robert Spencer, government propagandist and author of "Why Islam is a Violent Religion and Chrisitanity Isn't," and Amir Abbas Fakhvrar, an Iranian advocating "regime change" in Iran.
At the event itself, more people attending opposed IFAW, on different levels, than supported its message, judging by the applause. During the Q&A most questioners were very critical and expressed opposition to the message of hatred against Islam and war. Spencer's presentation did spread some confusion, however. He works by presenting half-truths and was very careful not to directly advocate a U.S. attack on Iran, disavowing some Bush policies when caught in his own contradictions. The whole panel was presented as an "attempt to open the dialoge that the left refuses to engage in." The event helped us understand better the methods that Horowitz & Co. use and, and we will continue to learn and fight to bring out the truth. They are not about "dialoge" but precisely the opposite: shutting down and silencing dissent on campus, just as the regime's repression and threats aim to do throughout society.
After the event, students protested Spencer's book signing, holding banners that read, "No attack on Iran" and "U.S. out of the Middle East" and chanting "Racist, sexist, anti-gay--racist bigots go away."
The evening proved to be rich with debate. Students from all over the city have stepped forward to oppose IFAW but the campus is not yet erupting in sharp debate over the heart of what this week represents and the fascist offensive in society in general. We will be out for the next several days learning from and challenging people on the mission of our generation: to drive out the Bush regime!!
Also...this Thursday, the Committee to Resist IFAW is holding a very exciting forum, details below:
Events
Confront, Expose, Defeat "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" at Depaul! The newly formed Chicago Committee to Resist "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" is calling on students, faculty, and all people of conscience to come to Depaul to defeat Horowitz' reactionary offensive.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (note their main event is on October 22)
Wednesday, October 17- 11-2pm, outside of the DePaul student center (Belden and Sheffield), students--come out and participate in guantanamo street theater, mass flyering and talking to people about what Horowitz and his ground troops are actually advocating for--more torture-more war--and the need to resist. Build for events next week.
Thursday October 18th--Film screening of the documentary "Jesus Camp" and organizing meeting at Loft-Right dorms (Fullerton and Racine) at 7pm. Meet out front. Call Samantha at 312-217-6700 for directions or questions.
For the week of October 22: "Islamo-fascism awareness week"
Monday, October 22-
THEIR (MAIN) EVENT: The Depaul Conservative Alliance- bringing Robert Spencer, a propagandist for the department of Homeland security who has notoriously deemed all Islam a jihadist religion, and Amir Abbas Fakhravar, a former dissenting Iranian student who was tortured under the Iranian regime, and is now calling for a U.S. attack on Iran, Courtylou Commons, 2342 N. Fremont St. 7pm.
OUR RESPONSE- We are calling for a speak-out in the quad at DePaul (Fullerton and Seminary) at 6pm, where students, faculty, and all people who oppose this reactionary offensive can express a very visibile outrage. The protest will be followed by a march to Courtlyou Commons. We are calling on those who oppose this to fill the auditorium, confront and expose Spencer and the DCA, and for those who cannot get in-continue to rally outside very boldly and loudly.
Wednesday, October 24-
THEIR EVENT: The DePaul Conservative Alliance is holding a film screening of "Obsession" (click here to watch) a right-wing propaganda film that attempts to associate the palastines with Hitler, stir up anti-Muslim ferver @ 7pm the DePaul student student center (Belden and Sheffield). (Read an analysis of this film from the Muslim Public Affairs Council here.)
OUR RESPONSE: We are calling on people to do street theatre outside of the DCA's event-the proposed theater is a mass of people in orange jumpsuits and black hoods (similar to the pictures we have all seen from Guantanamo Bay), while others flyer and talk to people about what Horowitz and his foot soldiers are actually advocating--which is more war, more torture. Gathering at 6pm outside of the DePaul student center.
Thursday, October 25-
Teach-in: U.S. Fascism Awareness, at 6pm, speakers and location to be announced. Connect up and learn more about the connections between IFAW and a potential attack on Iran, attacks on academic freedom at DePaul (with Profs Finkelstein and Larudee), and the need for resistance.
Friday, October 26-
THEIR EVENT: The DCA-tabling from 11-6pm on "Divesting Terror" in the DePaul Student center.
OUR RESPONSE: We are calling people to counter-table beside them, and also to confront them with the actual facts. Other plans, such as possible street theater/debate, TBA.
CONTACT: resistifaw@yahoo.com
Some links to check out:
David Horowitz' magazine website, www.frontpagemag.org
Clearing house on IFAW analysis and counter-organizing materials: www.defendcriticalthinking.org
"Are You Ready for Islamo-Fascism Week?" Chronicle of Higher Education
"Close Encounters of the Horowitz Kind" by Alan Goodman, Revolution newspaper issue 47 & 48
World Can't Wait Youtube video on IFAW
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There is a newly formed, ad hoc Committee to Resist "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" ( or Terrorism Awareness Week) at DePaul. This committee was formed through the course of discussion at the presentation with Reggie Dylan on Saturday.
There are lots of plans and things going on already. One transfer student in a sorrority (not sure which one) is making a presentation to her sorrority about IFAW and the need to resist (and fundraise for flyers,etc.)- and I think her sorrority is already circulating a petition against IFAW. Another student has been researching Robert Spencer (one of the featured speakers at the "War with Iran?" event Oct. 22) and found that he works for the Department of Homeland Security (the "Education" division- it would seem, an official government propagandist) and will be letting people know as he learns more (hopefully we'll have an essay or flyer soon). People are making announcements in their classes, posting flyers and talking to people in their deparments. One young woman (who is, as I understand it, culturally Muslim but not very religious) said that her heart sank when she saw the flyer for IFAW- she said that when she saw the flyer, she knew what it felt like to be the black students in Jena when the nooses went up in the tree.
After talking with some students at Loyola who were part of building opposition to Ann Coulter when she came to their campus a while back, people thought that how they held a rally/speak-out before Coulter's speech was a really good idea. So we're thinking about a speak-out about an hour before the "War with Iran?" event.
Organizing Meeting at Chicago
Attention All Students! Help us build an alternatively themed presence at the October 27th mobilization and plan against Islamofascism Awareness Week.
Student/youth activists and organizations across the city are working on creating a unified prescence at the October 27th march in Chicago that challenges US imperialism around the world, rather than one that capitulates to the Democratic Party goals and expectations. Planning will also include plans to counter Islamofascism Awareness Week on Chicago campuses. The meeting will be held:
Sunday, October 14th at Cafe Mediterra (728 S. Dearborn) 2 pm
All student/youth activists and organizations are welcome!
For more info please contact tsalemme (at) riseup.net
IFAW Plans for DePaul
From: DePaul Conservative Alliance [mailto:nhahn3@depaulca.org]
Sent: Sat 10/6/2007 8:29 PM
To: contact@depaulca.org
Subject: Terrorism Awareness Week
Friends,
It is with great excitement that I announce Terrorism Awareness Week. Throughout the week, the DePaul Conservative Alliance hopes to shed light on the gravest threat to Western civilization: militant Islam. Islamic fundamentalists despise the pillars of American life we hold dear: Judeo-Christian values, the free market, and the vigorous debate of ideas. The Alliance hopes you come prepared to engage these ideas, because after all, this is a university.
War with Iran?
October 22, 2007
7PM
Amir Abbas Fakhravar
Robert Spencer
Cortelyou Commons
2342 N. Fremont St.
Chicago, IL
Amir Abbas Fakhravar is an Iranian dissident and student leader. For a sneak peak into his heroic story, watch this! Robert Spencer is the author of many books about Islam, including Religion of Peace? Why Christianity Is and Islam Isn't.
Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West
October 24, 2007
7PM
Lincoln Park Student Center
Dining Room 220
2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL
Radical Islam is exposed in this new documentary! Watch the trailer here! An open discussion will follow the one-hour film.
Divesting Terror
October 26, 2007
Lincoln Park Student Center
Information Table
2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL
For more information on the week, I encourage you to visit our website at http://www.depaulca.org/. Thank you and I hope to see you in October!
In the spirit of Reagan,
Nicholas G. Hahn III
President
DePaul Conservative Alliance
http://www.depaulca.org/