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by a RAIL comrade
Ward Churchill spoke on a panel at University of California Berkeley to address free speech in academia and the witch hunt that has attacked him with what has become an ever-changing slew of unconstitutional, baseless and often racist charges. A comrade gathered 21 signatures on MIM's petition to demand the resignation of University of Colorado Chancellor Phil DiStefano and gathered lots of interest and support in our April 16th rally to support Ward Churchill.
An important focus of Churchill's presentation was the systematic role that amerikans play in the imperialist machine, which he expanded on in his defense of calling the 9/11 victims "little Eichmanns." Contrary to the assertion of one Fox News fan in the audience, the problem is not that "there are a few racists in society." This was in response to Churchill's report of a bar in San Francisco's Financial District that prides itself on such genocide memorabilia as the alleged teeth of General Custer's indigenous sex slave that he busted out in an act of punishment. In a society where genocide and sexual abuse were truly unacceptable, such a display would not be tolerated. Yet, the people who Churchill calls "little Eichmanns" happily toss down alcohol after work amidst such obscenities. While the Fox News fan will play this off as one backwards individual (the bar owner) and a bunch of "innocent, hard-working people," anyone who wants to prevent more attacks like 9/11 better demand that amerikans check themselves and take responsibility for what their nation has done and continues to do around the world.
To stress the agenda that is behind the attacks he is facing, Churchill pointed out "I didn't say justified... I didn't say deserved" when discussing 9/11, yet Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson both said those things and are facing no such criticism. And to those who say the issue is within the academic institution, the University of Colorado (UC) paid Ann Coulter to talk about the importance of wiping out the savages so that institutions like UC can exist. Again, genocide by white people is generally accepted by amerikans in bars and universities across the country, while there is outrage when the oppressed point out that genocide and exploitation will breed resistance. And if one wants to blame amerikans for what they've gotten themselves into, then blame it on homosexuality and sins against god, not on imperialism, say the reactionaries.
It is incorrect that Churchill's speech should be restricted because his salary is paid with tax dollars, since his very job is to formulate an analysis based on facts and evidence. But to shut up the reactionary chorus, the fact is that Churchill does not live off of tax-payer money unlike mass murderers like George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld. While in previous articles MIM reported that a mere 7% of Ward Churchill's salary came from tax money (what would equal $6,000 a year), Churchill corrected even this low figure saying that he brings in more money than he is paid. According to the University, 25 student sessions is the break even point for Churchill's salary, while he typically has 86 sessions these days. The tuition for those extra 61 sessions is money for the university above what it costs them to employ Churchill. In addition, in the past he wrote grant requests that brought in far more money than he was ever paid. Therefore the bogus "tax-payer" attack on Churchill isn't even supported by the numbers.
Churchill made it clear that he would continue to struggle against the fascist lynch mob that is building its own notoriety around the "Ward Churchill issue." He continues to bring the truth to amerikans as he fends off the lynch mob attacks. Stand with Ward Churchill and expose the backwards thinking of his attackers. Join MIM on April 16 and 17 to demonstrate in support of Churchill and in opposition to those who would have him censored.