Editor,
We would like to respond to the article written by Avicra Luckey entitled “Pro-Palestine group erects ‘Israeli Apartheid Wall.’” First off, although Students for Justice in Palestine brought the campaign to campus, we were by no means the only group involved in the Mock Wall Project.
Traditionally, the MWP represents the U.S./Mexico border on one side and the Palestine/Israel border on the other, but SJP decided to open up an invitation to other social justice groups on campus. This coordination was designed both to give these groups a platform to bring awareness to their causes and to network and strengthen the social justice community on campus. SJP wanted to clarify this because we feel it is important to give due credit to the 19 other groups involved.
The wall would not have been possible without the planning and construction by the Association of Architects for Design & Urbanism, and the coalition is extremely grateful for their work.
Additionally, it was a completely cooperative effort among Raza Graduate Student Association, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, Free Alvaro Now, Amnesty International, (un)Occupy Albuquerque, SCRAP Productions, Food Not Bombs, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Out Queer Grads, Kiva Club, Queer Straight Alliance, Fair Trade Initiative, African Leadership Opportunity Team, GetEQUAL NM, Students Organizing Actions for Peace, Muslim Student Association, One Million Bones and the Student Dharma Association.
Secondly, we would like to clarify the misquotation of Danya Mustafa and make it clear that the West Bank and Gaza are separate occupied territories, the apartheid wall surrounds them both and the wall encroaches into the West Bank. Finally, it is important to note that it is called the Mock Wall, not the Israeli Apartheid Wall. The name represents all borders, both physical and social, that people face on a daily basis.
Lissie Perkal
UNM student
