Red Clinic statement in support of Dr Lara Sheehi
The Red Clinic has worked closely with Dr Lara Sheehi, and will continue to do so. She stands with the Palestinian people in their struggle for self-determination against the brutal oppression meted out by the state of Israel, and we stand with her against the dishonest attacks that have been orchestrated by Zionist organisations.
Dr Sheehi has come under attack for statements made at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in her role as Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology within the Professional Psychology Program. She was accused of antisemitism for questioning Israeli state narratives in a doctoral class on diversity. A colleague invited to address students, respected Palestinian socio-legal scholar Dr Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, has also come under attack.
The Red Clinic - a collective of communist mental health workers united for a radical psychotherapy, for the care of the oppressed, and for uniting the two in the service of communist politics – now adds its voice in support of Dr Sheehi to that of a growing number of other organisations. These include the Palestine-Global Mental Health Network and international solidarity mental health networks in the USA, the UK, Ireland, and France, the Board of Directors of Division 39 of the American Psychological Association, the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (which has agreed to represent Dr. Sheehi in the investigation initiated at George Washington University), and individual practitioners in many other public letters and statements, including, significantly, in an open letter protesting the attacks on Dr Sheehi signed by many Jewish mental health clinicians. Criticism of the actions of the Israeli state, and declaration of opposition to Zionism as racist legitimation of apartheid in Israel and Palestine, is not antisemitism.
Students and alumni at GWU have circulated a petition demonstrating wide support of Dr Sheehi within her own institution. The Red Clinic declares its support for these initiatives and we give our full solidarity to Dr Sheehi.
The Red Clinic Board
