BROOKLYN, October 6—“Honestly I didn’t think that the leafleting against Goldstein would accomplish anything or even get a reaction. I was wrong. Those leaflets really scared the administration - it’s freaking them out, and now they’re going to respond.” A sympathetic Kingsborough Community College (KCC) faculty member recently related this to a member of the Progressive Labor Party. The racists fear direct, mass confrontation and at KCC, they are getting it!
Last spring, a group of students, faculty and workers came into possession of hundreds of extreme racist, sexist social media posts by KCC administrator Michael Goldstein. Goldstein shared Facebook posts that said Islam “executes gays, chops off heads and stones women.” Another shared post said “Confederate veterans are American veterans.” Still another questioned “politicians who protect illegals who rape and murder.” In response, about 1,500 leaflets were collectively produced, printed and distributed around campus calling for Goldstein’s termination. Phone calls were made to the Human Resources office and Chief Diversity Officer to complain. Some students even discovered where Goldstein’s office was, and slid the leaflets under his door!
Students, sympathetic faculty and staff and some PL’ers found out recently that Goldstein has been removed from his position as KCC’s Director of Public Relations. The stripping of his formal power - and his embarrassment to the administration - is a partial victory for the student-led antiracist forces at KCC! The administration continues protecting him by shuffling him around, and it will take mass struggle to drive racists likeGoldstein out.
Racists show their colors
Now the racists have responded. In an article on a rightwing website Goldstein claimed the leafleting is part of a systematic campaign of anti-Jewish racism against him. Also, around two dozen KCC professors received certified letters saying Goldstein is considering legal action against them.
On September 6, an “exclusive” article appeared on a website, Campus Reform (see box) featuring an interview with Goldstein. He whined that he’s been accused of “vile, false allegations of racism,” and accused a group of faculty of being anti-Jewish. The Lawfare Project, a pro-Israeli, nonprofit law firm, sent a letter on his behalf to CUNY Interim Chancellor Vita Rabinowitz, crying about a supposed “ongoing discrimination campaign” against him. As if antiracism was discriminatory!
The Campus Reform article, faithful to its fascist heritage, made bizarre and dangerous allegations. With no evidence whatsoever, it names and blames a professor who had absolutely nothing to do with the leafleting campaign.
Goldstein threatens legal action
Then on October 3, a group of about two dozen KCC faculty received certified, confidential letters from the Lawfare Project notifying them that Goldstein is considering legal action. In “anticipation of litigation,” the professors are instructed:
“to retain and preserve all emails, voicemails, text messages…social media postings and communications as well as all other electronic or printed documents, records…in any way relating to:
-Mr. Goldstein
-Your views on Israel
-Your views on Zionism
-Your views on Jews
-Your views on Palestine; and
-the Progressive Faculty Caucus [group of left-minded KCC]
…This notification extends to all emails generated on a CUNY/KCC server.”
The fascists are on a fishing expedition. They have no idea who is responsible for the antiracist campaign against them. Like the Israeli fascists they adore, they attack indiscriminately. They feel protected by a government that promotes racism. Their “freedom of speech” is a farce that only applies to racists like Goldstein, whose connections to fascist, terrorist groups like the Leadership Institute (see box) show us how deadly serious the bosses are about defending racism and capitalism.
The leaflet distributed at KCC is 100 percent right when it states: “It will take as many of us as possible to unite and build a movement to fight back [against racism].” However many were involved, it will take many more in the struggles ahead. That’s because as communists we know that fighting racism is necessary for any progress for all workers and students. Join us!