Jimmy Carter Visits UC Berkeley

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Former President and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Jimmy Carter visited the University of California, Berkeley today to speak about his recent book, Palestine: Peace not Apartheid. He was invited by the Associated Students of the University of California, Berkeley (ASUC) because of his moral stature and dedication to humanitarian action. For his work, President Carter was presented by Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau with the university’s highest honor, the University Medal.

In general the event passed without incident. Outside the event, various organizations -- Israeli Action Committee, Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voices for Peace, among others -- tabled voicing their opposition and support for Carter and his book. 

Early in his speech, President Carter gave the audience advice on screening potential candidates for Congress and the Presidency with regard to the Israel-Palestine conflict. He challenged the audience to ask all potential candidates to take this pledge: "If elected I would do everything possible to promote balanced negotiations to achieve peace and security for Israel and a secure and contiguous state for Palestine, if they won’t make you that pledge, don’t support them."