On October 4th, Minutemen leader Jim Gilchrist came to speak at Columbia University. Gilchrist's hate speech was met with a peaceful demonstration in which students came on the stage unfurling banners reading: "No Human Being is Illegal" and "No To Racism."  The Minutemen responded to these non-violent protesters with force, in particular targeting Latino students on and around the stage with punches and kicks. After assaulting the pro-Immigrant protesters, the Minutemen ended their event early. Please see the damning footage below and take action to support the assaulted students.

Part I- Univision Coverage
www.youtube.com/watch
 
Part II- Univision Coverage
www.youtube.com/watch

On Friday, Oct 6 Columbia University President Lee Bollinger issued a statement condemning the protesters' non-violent protest and remained silent about the violence of the Minutemen towards the students. Please take action to contact President Bollinger's Office to express your disapproval with his statement and demand that no reprisals be taken against the protesters. By doing anything short of retracting his statement and canceling his "investigation" against the assaulted students, he at best blames the victim and at worst gives cover for the use of vigilante violence against non-violent protesters.

 President Bollinger's Statement:

www.columbia.edu/cu/president/communications%20files/freedomofspeech.htm

Please call and email President Bollinger's office:
phone: 212.854.9970,  fax: 212.854.9973
email: bollinger (at) columbia.edu

Please copy/send messages of support to the Columbia Protesters' Defense Committee at: nominutemen (at) gmail.com

And take a moment to sign an online petition at:
www.petitiononline.com/nominute/petition.html