Oberlin SFPStudents for a Free Palestine (SFP) is a Palestine solidarity group at Oberlin College. It is a nonhierarchical organization of students with a variety of backgrounds and points of view. We all agree, however, that Israel must end its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and that all sides must respect human rights.
Mission Statement
Our mission as Students for a Free Palestine here at Oberlin is first and foremost to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. We strive to do this by raising awareness of the oppression and vast suffering of Palestinians under the Israeli occupation both within historical as well as present contexts. We work to create more nuanced dialogue on campus as well as in our larger communities. We recognize that we do not speak for the Palestinian people; instead, we make every effort to enable Palestinian voices and struggles to be heard and widely known.
We as a group do not specifically endorse either a one or two-state solution; instead, we advocate for the right of all Palestinians to self-determination. Furthermore, we call on Israel to adhere to international law. More specifically, we demand that:
- Israel ends its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantles the Wall;
- recognizes the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and,
- respects, protects and promotes the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.
Brief History
The current SFP has been active since 2002. Before that, Oberlin had an active SFP from the 1980s to 1998.* Our activities include organizing educational events such as bringing speakers, screening movies, creating installations, and organizing teach-ins.
Each year SFP holds a student-led teach-in called "Palestine 101" about the history and current issues of the conflict. Other recent events include spoken word performances featuring acclaimed poets Suheir Hammad and Remi Kanazi, lectures by widely-read authors including Ali Abunimah and Sarah Schulman, and reports from delegation members of Interfaith Peace Builders.