Union educator Peggy Wang was successfully brought back to work by supporters after a 3-month-long campaign against MassArt administration’s attempts to fire her for participating in a peaceful pro-Palestinian protest. But now, MassArt administration is suspending her without pay for 2 weeks, punishing her through retaliatory measures.

We demand that MassArt immediately rescind the suspension and drop all punishment against her. Those in the MassArt community should have the right to free speech, assembly, and protest; pro-Palestinian protests should not be an exception!

To President Grant and Provost Molife,

I’m writing to express my opposition to your punishment of Peggy Wang, MassArt staff worker and Massachusetts Teachers Association union member, over the exercise of her right to free speech and protest at a pro-Palestinian protest on campus on her own time this past April.

Your 2-week unpaid suspension of Peggy, along with hyper-surveillance through punitive measures like intimidating “trainings” and meetings with management, are an unjust retaliation. No one should have to have their pay stolen from them or to endure a hostile work environment over their peaceful exercising of basic civil liberties.

It is appalling to see MassArt, as a public higher ed institution and the sole free-standing public art college in the country, repressing our civil rights at a time when these rights are essential to defend. Already, the disciplinary measures you have taken against students and the firing of a staff member for attending a protest calling for divestment from weapons and an end to the genocide have been unacceptable, cruel, and harmful to the public.

I’m calling for you to end your wrongful discipline of Peggy, as it is a harm not just to her but also to the MassArt students, staff, and faculty, as well as to anyone hoping to participate in political expression at MassArt. MassArt leadership should reconsider whether it wants to be counted among those institutions known to be on the wrong side of history, as your actions have invalidated any claim MassArt may have to being a place for “learning” or “political engagement.” The evidence from this past year has proved MassArt a place where democratic and civil rights are being denied to students and workers.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Affiliation, if applicable]