Since Nazis marched on the University of Virginia campus and in the city of Charlottesville, we have heard from many of you about how you have prepared for, responded to, and—in some cases—prevented manifestations of white nationalism on your campuses and in your communities.
Some of you have also shared your stories here: https://www.aft.org/news/fighting-white-supremacy-campus. Last week, AFT’s Executive Council passed this related resolution: https://www.aft.org/resolution/combating-white-supremacist-terrorism.
Following the resolution, and with the input you and the members of the AFT Higher Education Program and Policy Council have provided, we’ve assembled the attached document, “Fighting White Nationalism on Campus: A Guide for AFT Affiliates.”
It contains recommendations for resisting white nationalism on your campus, and for forcefully rejecting the ideologies of racism and white supremacy while also upholding our shared commitments to free speech, civil liberties, and safety.
Please use this guide as you see fit, and send us any feedback and ideas you may have. We wish mightily that no such document were necessary—but while it is, we’ll be ready to support it, and each of you, in doing this work.
Yours in solidarity,
Alyssa Picard
Director | AFT Higher Education