The following is a statement from Richard C. Iannuzzi, president of New York State United Teachers, on behalf of the union’s Board of Directors:
ALBANY, NY, Nov. 21, 2011 — “Free speech and peaceful assembly are two of the great traditions of higher education in this nation. Last week’s outrageous pepper spray attack on students at the University of California/Davis threatens those traditions and cannot be tolerated.
“Universities are a guardian of diverse opinion, debate and, sometimes, protest. What happened in California should be condemned and steps must be taken to ensure it is never repeated.”
NYSUT, the state’s largest union, represents more than 600,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.