A Global Anti-Hate Speech Petition on Behalf of Professor Yahya R. Kamalipour

Hate speech is an awful thing and should never be tolerated. I am very sorry to hear about Professor Kamalipour and believe that everyone needs to take a stand for the good of this man as well as the countless others who have been victims of hate speech.

The comments printed and distributed about Professor Kamalipour are outrageous and disturbing. While the First Amendment protects our rights to speak freely; it does not give anyone the right to bully and spread lies about another. I am very sorry that Dr. Kamalipour has fallen victim to a coward who appears to enjoy inflicting pain on others. Yahya, you have the support of many , even those who remain silent due to fear of retaliation. I applaud your courage and have known you as a peaceful and well-respected colleague.

I have known professor Kamalipour for years first as President of Global Communication Association, head of the Department of Communication and Creative Ats, Director of the Center for Global Studies at Purdue University Calumet and then as Peace Ambassador who actively participated in the 8-th International Conference "Communicating through the Universe" held in April 24-26, 2014 in Russia. His trip to Russia was long and tiring, but still the idea of the Conference contribution was above those facts. For all the Conference participants representing different countries and cultures Professor Kamalipour has become an advocate for global understanding through communication. His greeting speech to the Conference participants was topical and symbolic to some extent due to current interntional situation. I have no doubt that all the accusations made against him are completely false. That is the reason I kindly request the Purdue Univerity administration to take the necessary steps to restore the positive image and reputation of Professor Kamalipour. Russian Association of Global Communication President, Professor Greidina

I have known Yahya for 15 years, personally and professionally, Yahya is a hard working and honest and honorable person.'Eisenstein is either jealous or has an ulterior motive. I stand by Yahaya because I know him.

I find it outrageous that an esteemed Professor such as Yahya has to deal with such accusations. I was a student at PUC until the spring of 2013 when I graduated during my time at the university I was a student in the department he was the head of. Not once did I find anything he had done published spoken about, etc. in any way or form to be neither racist nor slanderous to any person. In fact I had spoken to him many time in the hall as he admired the art work on the walls that myself and fellow students creative in our A&D classes led by Professor Zhang. I even asked him a few questions at times and he was always unbiased and very much so enlightening. On the other hand I was also a student at the university when students had protested Maurice Moshe Eisenstein and his views of the Muslim world. The racism he spewed and spouted not only in his classroom but also on social media got him nothing more than a few death threats and a slap on the wrist from the university. Honestly I am disgusted to be an alumni member of a university that allows such hate to be spewed in the classroom. I understand that learning on a higher level mean to be open minded and subjected to opinion of esteemed scholars but enough is enough. Karma has a bad way of catching up to people and one day he will meet up with her and all the wrong he has committed will finally be given justice. But until then I urge the students of the Campus not to lie down and roll over. Instead stand up and protest unify and let the staff and faculty know you’re not going to be mindless slaves and that you will not stand for such an injustice.

Dear All: Thank you very much for your support of this petition. To learn about the details of this troublesome case, please visit https://yrkamal.wordpress.com/

Professor Kamalipour is a consumate professional, who lives kindness and integrity, as demonstrated in his work and relationships at Purdue University Calumet. The "shock value" nonsense spewed by Eisenstein, both in the past, and now toward his latest target, is unfounded and borders on instability. As a former employee and student of PUC, this latest round of Eisenstein escapades has gone far beyond mere freedom of speech. I certainly hope PUC decides to act this time and stop the clown act of which Eisenstein seems to be so very fond. Best to Yahya. Cynthia Huntoon, M.S. Ed.

I have know Professor Yahya Kamalipour for over 12 years. I have worked closely with him and participated in conferences that he has organized. I know him to be an inclusive humanitarian with core values of peace, tolerance, justice and global harmony. Attacks on him by Maurice Eisenstein are scurrilous and baseless. That Professor Kamalipour must endure these false charges and constant harassment is completely outrageous and antithetical to the civil society he is working so hard to achieve. He deserves the support of all of us who believe in civil discourse. Howard Cohen, Interim President, SUNY Buffalo State

the Iranian always have been polite, creative and kind and no body in every where can not ignore this.

I have always held Dr. Yahya Kamalipour in high regard, both as a professor and mentor. Throughout my years at Purdue Calumet, I had the pleasure of taking 5 different courses from him. His lectures were consistently positive and intellectually stimulating and there are many things that still stand out in my mind even 15 years later. I distinctly remember when one of his books was released and he had a signing at Borders book store. I bought his book and had him autograph it for me because I respected his accomplishments and was proud to be one of his students! As a matter of fact, he was the professor who encouraged me to pursue a Doctoral degree when I went to him asking about his thoughts on Masters degrees. Currently, I am on the path to doing both of those things. I most likely would not have even considered a Doctoral degree if it weren't for Dr. Kamalipour....that is how much impact he made on me! I am extremely saddened and outraged that someone in academia could make an attack like this on Dr. Kamalipour. I am in full support of Dr. Kamalipour and I sincerely hope that appropriate actions are taken against this other professor. -- Jodi L. Drake

-- Chris Chen

Professor Yahya Kamalipour is a good friend of mine and also a respectable scholar who has diligently promoted cross-cultural understandings and global communication for years. I feel sorry to see such unfair attack on Professor Yahya Kamalipour's personal and professional integrity. The fierce, discriminatory, and baseless accusations are certainly discouraging and unwanted. Again, I feel sorry to see this, especially in academia and in this global village.

He is one of the best personality I know in my life

It is truly shameful that such a highly regarded scholar has been subjected to this discrimination.

I met prof. Kamalipour at the inaugural conference of Global Communications Association in Shanghai in 2009. I still remember how he welcomed me. I was very nervous because it was first time for me to participate in an international conference. After the conference, when I met him at the hotel lobby, he offered me to have a beer together. He taught me a lot of his experience as an international student and a naturalized citizen of the United States. His talk was very impressive and encouraging me because I was also an foreign born professor in Japan. I can't believe such a generous person has been under a personal attack.

There is always a way to negotiate!

I know of Dr. Kamalipour through his work; the Global Communication Association and the suite of Global Media Journals. He is a model and an inspiration in the area of globalization for the common good.

After graduation in the early 90's, I've kept in touch with Dr. Kamalipour and met on occasion when I was able to make it back to the Region. While unsure of the allegations being waged against him, I have never experienced the least bit of 'hate' or discontent for any group either directly or inferred from our conversations.

We and all my academic colleagues hate this campaign and it should be globally condemned.

I deplore the baseless alegations against Professor Kamalipour. Capitalizing on the success of a scholar of this status to gain fame is unethical to say the least. Professor Kamalipour is a respected US educator for whom I have the highest respect.