Fighting Colonialism in the Modern Day: Indigenous Perspectives of Colorado History, the DU Palestine Solidarity Encampment, and Community Organizing

• In Event: Beyond the National Spotlight: Denver’s Palestine Solidarity Encampments, Organizer and Decolonial Perspectives, Institutional Responses, and the Limits of Free Speech

Abstract

The University of Denver’s colonial history traces back to its founder, John Evans who was the Governor of Colorado responsible for the Sand Creek Massacre of the Indigenous peoples of Colorado in 1864. DU has kept with its colonial practices as they refused to meet student demands while penalizing those they could identify and misrepresenting their Jewish student body, including members of Jewish Voice for Peace who were in support of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment. The Encampment had very specific demands: Disclose investments as a form of accountability; and Divest from all companies invested in and responsible for the illegal occupation, apartheid and genocide of Palestinians in The West Bank, Gaza and historic Palestine. The next demands were to Declare that the University of Denver boycott Israel economically and academically; and to Defend the right to protest, free speech on campus, and provide full amnesty for students, faculty, and staff in support of non-violent Palestinian Liberation. This includes separating resistance to colonial zionism from anti-semitism. Last, Decolonize, would require all key administrators and board members learn go through education curated by Jewish Voice For Peace and impacted Palestinian students about the history of Palestine. Decolonization would also entail removing The Pioneer Mascot and memorialization of John Evans from campus names and buildings while acknowledging the local genocide and offering education about these local issues led by impacted students and professors. While The University of Denver will do Land Acknowledgments, they have said the Decolonization demand was asking too much when perhaps the simplest of the demands. This refusal has made much of The Indigenous community, including myself, feel the University of Denver is not a safe space to discuss topics of critical education. Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island understand colonization and ethnic cleansing all too well and can recognize that the same has been and is currently being done to Palestinians. This encampment created a safe space rooted in Indigenous knowledge of the history of the land and the importance of intersectionality in conversations about Liberation. Space was held for the community to assemble with various backgrounds of faith and lived experiences. Palestinian students finally had a safe space where their histories could be fully discussed and heard. Jewish For Peace students held Shabbat and taught encampment participants about their histories, songs and religious practices. The Palestine Solidarity Encampment showed the overlooked forms of political education and learning that are only possible in inclusive community-based education spaces. It represented how cyclical community care is possible by fostering relationships with community partners, highlighting the importance of intersectional advocacy, mutual aid and horizontal leadership organizing.

Authors

• Alexandria Flores, Denver Indigenous Community Organizer

• Rachel Roberts, University of Denver