We, the Executive Council of the Rutgers AAUP-AFT, join with other labor and civic leaders to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We offer our heartfelt concern and compassion for the people of Ukraine suffering from the dislocations, destruction, and death of this unjust war. We express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine and Russia, including those who have bravely demonstrated their opposition to Russia’s aggression.
With them, we call for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukraine. We also demand that NATO, Ukraine, and Russia negotiate an immediate diplomatic solution to this crisis and reject any further escalation of violence. We oppose further NATO expansion and further increases in US military spending. It is only through peaceful negotiation that humanity has any hope of stopping and preventing the expansion of this horrific war. Diplomacy, not war and military power, is the only way to pursue a foreign policy that promotes security and prosperity for working people in Ukraine, in Russia, in the U.S., and around the world.
The invasion of Ukraine is already having negative impacts for scholars, students, international labor unions, and others within and beyond academic communities. We condemn this infringement on the production of knowledge, and we also condemn any inappropriate retaliatory actions against either Ukrainian or Russian colleagues across the world.
We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and will continue to demand peace.