The country has supported repressive governments in the region to suppress indigenous movements and uprisings.

By Belen Fernandez

AsCalifornia prisoners' massive hunger strike against long-term solitaryconfinement, group punishment, and other cruel and inhuman policies of the CDCR(California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) enters its second week,Governor Jerry Brown is on a two-week vacation to Germanyand Ireland.  To add insult to injury, itincludes a visit to the Dachau concentration camp.

It isshocking for the Governor to have chosen this time to go on vacation while the CDCRrefuses to meet the hunger strikers' five just demands that would end the torture ofprisoners in the state he is supposed to be responsible for governing.  The International Jewish Anti-Zionist Networkis outraged that Brown dares to exploit theNazi genocide to distract from his complicity in the repression and racism againstprisoners, disproportionately people of color and low income people, women andtransgender people, in order to make money for the lucrative prison industry inCalifornia. 

Pleasetake a moment to sign the  Pledge of Resistance to stand with Californiaprisoners on hunger strike!

Dear Prof. Stephen Hawking, 

The International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) thanks you for taking the principled course of action: publicly refusing to participatein Israel's presidential conference, chaired by the notorious war criminal Shimon Peres. Our own recent history as Jews vividly presents to us the culpable role of those who merely stay silent in the face of state-organized racism and violence.

We further commend your decision to publicize the reasons for your withdrawal in a form that conveys your understanding that the primary obligation of people of conscience everywhere is to listen to Palestinians who suffer Israel's oppression and act in solidarity based on their analysis and demands. Your actions set an example for conscientious engagement as a scientist and as a public figure. We hope that your example will inform and in turn move more scientists, intellectuals, and artists to action. 

As with others who followed the same course, in the coming days many powerful people will subject you to a barrage of abuse. The primary purpose of this barrage is to frighten others who might want to emulate you but do not feel as confident in their ability to withstand the public attempts of character assassination. We therefore also write to you to encourage others. While those who appreciate what you did donot hold high office nor own newspapers and TV channels, we are the majority of humanity and we deeply appreciate you.

Sincerely,