 |
Mickey Z
Cool Observer
the Department of Homeland Security.
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
In support of Ward Churchill
You may or may not be aware of the hoopla surrounding scholar, activist, and author Ward Churchill. If not, AK Press sent out the following info today:
“After finding himself at the center of a media firestorm--and receiving a barrage of death threats--AK Press author, Ward Churchill, has stepped down from his position as Chair of the Ethnic Studies Department at the University of Colorado. Not satisfied with this, Colorado Governor Bill Owens is demanding that Ward resign his position as a tenured professor as well.
“The controversy is based on an essay Ward wrote soon after 9-11, which he later expanded into an AK Press book, ‘On the Justice of Roosting Chickens: Reflections on the Consequences of U.S. Imperial Arrogance and Criminality.’ Conservative protestors used the essay to force Hamilton College in New York to cancel a speaking engagement Ward had scheduled there. The mainstream media (including Bill O’Reilly and Fox News) has picked up the story, distorting and misrepresenting the facts, as usual.
“AK Press wishes to voice our support for Ward in this struggle--in terms of both his well-researched analysis of factors that contributed to the 9-11 attacks and his right to express that analysis in public without having his life and livelihood threatened. We also recommend that you read ‘On the Justice of Roosting Chickens’ yourself, rather than relying on the media’s version on it. Individuals can order it here: http://www.akpress.org/2003/items/onthejusticeofroostingchickens
(end of AK release)
I may not always agree with Ward Churchill (or anyone), but it shouldn’t even be necessary for me to say I fully support him (or anyone) speaking his mind (and I urge you to read the book in question). Sadly, I have no delusions that something like this can’t and won’t happen to someone like me...in the blink of an eye.
Let’s show some solidarity for Churchill ASAP...in whatever way we can. For now, here’s something I wrote a while back thanks to his latest book:
http://www.counterpunch.org/mickey12202003.html
To read Ward’s press release, please click on “more” below:
Who's Online
Copyright © 2005-2007 Mickey Z.
