Open Letter to Thomas Jefferson University: No Donations until Divestment
President Susan Aldridge
For eight months and counting, the world has been witness to relentless acts of barbarity and cruelty by Israel toward Palestinians. Over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since October 7th, 15,000 of them children, and millions more face catastrophic levels of famine and disease. Israel continues to completely block food, water, and electricity from entering Gaza and targets humanitarian workers, medical professionals, and journalists. Massacres are daily occurrences, with Israel bombing refugee camps, schools, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure, showing wanton disregard for human life. Despite the International Court of Justice determining a “real and imminent risk” of genocide in Gaza and the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for crimes against humanity against the criminally responsible, the Israeli and United States governments have doubled down, asserting that no such thing is occurring. However, the evidence is clear, abundant, and broadcast daily across our social media feeds.
As current and former students, we can no longer be paralyzed by inaction while our tuition, endowment, and tax dollars are being used to support apartheid, occupation, and genocide. It is a shame to realize that the community we are proud of belonging to, one that promises to redefine what is humanly possible, is complicit in furthering the evils we wish to eradicate. It is shameful that an institution, known for providing world-class healthcare and education, is profiting from death and destruction.
We urge the greater Thomas Jefferson University community — alumni, parents, current students, and faculty — to support our demands to divest entirely from Israel’s apartheid system.
We, Thomas Jefferson University Alumni for Palestine, pledge to withhold all donations to the University until it meets all of the following demands:
Public Statement: Issue a public statement calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Urge other academic institutions, healthcare networks, and the government to do the same.
Financial Divestment: Completely divest Thomas Jefferson University’s finances, including the endowment, from companies and institutions that profit from Israel’s continued apartheid, occupation, and genocide in Palestine. Increase transparency involving financial investments for the Thomas Jefferson community.
Academic and Cultural Boycott: Sever ties with institutions and organizations that provide material or ideological support for the continued Israeli apartheid, occupation, and genocide in Palestine, in line with the 2004 Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel.
Palestinian Affiliations: Cultivate affiliations with Palestinian educational, cultural, and healthcare institutions.
Sponsored by
To:
President Susan Aldridge
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Susan Aldridge, President of Thomas Jefferson University, and the Board of Trustees,
For eight months and counting, the world has been witness to relentless acts of barbarity and cruelty by Israel toward Palestinians. Over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since October 7th, 15,000 of them children, and millions more face catastrophic levels of famine and disease. Israel continues to completely block food, water, and electricity from entering Gaza and targets humanitarian workers, medical professionals, and journalists. Massacres are daily occurrences, with Israel bombing refugee camps, schools, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure, showing wanton disregard for human life. Despite the International Court of Justice determining a “real and imminent risk” of genocide in Gaza and the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for crimes against humanity against the criminally responsible, the Israeli and United States governments have doubled down, asserting that no such thing is occurring. However, the evidence is clear, abundant, and broadcast daily across our social media feeds.
As current and former students, we can no longer be paralyzed by inaction while our tuition and endowment are being used to support apartheid, occupation, and genocide. It is a shame to realize that the community we are proud of belonging to, one that promises to redefine what is humanly possible, is complicit in furthering the evils we wish to eradicate. It is shameful that an institution, known for providing world-class healthcare and education, is profiting from death and destruction.
We alumni pledge to withhold all donations to the University until it meets all of the following demands:
1. Issue a public statement calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Urge other academic institutions, healthcare networks, and the government to do the same.
2. Completely divest Thomas Jefferson University’s finances, including the endowment, from companies and institutions that profit from Israel’s continued apartheid, occupation, and genocide in Palestine. Increase transparency involving financial investments for the Thomas Jefferson community.
3. Sever ties with institutions and organizations that provide material or ideological support for the continued Israeli apartheid, occupation, and genocide in Palestine, in line with the 2004 Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel.
4. Cultivate affiliations with Palestinian educational, cultural, and healthcare institutions.