PARTISAN!

Edith Fischer condemns ANU’s expulsion of Beatrice Tucker as an attack on freedom of speech.

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The Australian National University (ANU) has expelled a student for comments made in the course of their Palestine solidarity organising. This is the first expulsion of a student by an Australian university in the wake of the latest wave of pro-Palestinian and anti-imperialist organising on campuses. Beatrice Tucker (above), who is a member of Students and Staff Against War ANU, as well as a Socialist activist, was expelled following a disciplinary investigation concerning comments they made during a radio interview.

The expulsion comes after a number of threats aimed at students protesting the ongoing slaughter in Gaza. At University of Queensland, students were informed that the word “intifada” and the slogan of “Israel out of Palestine!” were to be banned, while at Monash, several leading student activists were threatened with retaliation and academic penalties if they did not desist from their protests. Unfortunately, these threats have had a chilling effect on the demonstrations around the country, showing that students have not yet moved to a political level where they are no longer afraid of institutional repression.

Democratic freedoms are not guaranteed by the beneficence of the state, nor are they the spontaneous product of “natural rights” or “civil society”. They are the hard won gains of social struggle, and the consistent demands of the democratic and workers movements for political and social freedom. Communists are not afraid of freedom of speech or assembly. In fact, we see freedom as light and air for the socialist movement. As such, we say: Defend political freedoms! No penalties for protest! Lift the expulsion and ban on Beatrice Tucker!