ABBY MARTIN BANNED FROM SPEAKING AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

Abby Martin of The Empire Files was prevented from speaking at an American university last week because she refused to sign a contract that would of prevented her from criticising the Israeli government.

LAST WEEK Abby Martin of The Empire Files was prevented from delivering a speech at the University of Georgia because she refused to sign a contractual pledge 'to not boycott Israel'. The event was subsequently cancelled after other speakers declined to participate, in solidarity with Abby.

Since 2014 28 US states have adopted anti-boycott laws, five of them the result of a direct executive order signed by the state governor.

Abby, as readers of this blog will be aware, is a trenchant critic of the Israeli regime and its anti-Palestinian policies. Her recent documentary, Gaza Fights for Freedom, has been widely praised.

There is a concerted campaign, much of it funded by the Israeli government itself, to smear any criticism of Israel as 'anti-semitic'. Donald Trump has described the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) as a 'anti-semitic campaign against Israel.' In Britain Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a lifelong supporter of the Palestinian struggle, has been constantly attacked by the Israeli lobby for being 'anti-semitic'.

Abby says that the attack on her right to speak is part of a nationwide American campaign 'to protect Israel from grassroots pressure'.

'We must stand firmly opposed to these efforts and not cower in fear to these blatant violations of free speech.'