Hundreds of community members, activists and students gathered on Temple University’s campus in Philadelphia March 10 for a rally demanding the reinstatement with tenure of professor Anthony Monteiro. Monteiro, a life-long Philadelphia resident and prominent community activist, teaches in the Department of African American Studies but was recently notified that his contract would not be renewed. By the end of the demonstration, the president of the university and the chairman of the board of trustees had been forced by a spontaneous sit-in to agree to a round of negotiations with the coalition.
The protest was held, initially, outside the building where Temple’s Board of Trustees was having its regular meeting. In between chants of “Monteiro in, Soufas out!” (referring to Teresa Soufas, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts) representatives from a wide range of organizations pointed out the deep issues related to this struggle. Speakers included AFSCME 1199c President Henry Nicolas, community organizer Sacaree Rhoades and Temple Students for Justice in Palestine President Rose Daraz. Temple students Kashara White and Walter Smolarek, who are members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, co-chaired the rally.
Internationally-renowned activist Pam Africa, Pennsylvania State Representative Curtis Thomas and Pastor Renee McKinsey of the historic Church of the Advocate have also spoken out publically against the firing.
The rally was the second public event, organized after a standing room-only press conference last month, held by a broad coalition that has come together in outrage at the injustices committed against Monteiro. This is part of a larger struggle over the future of the African American Studies Department and Temple University’s relationship with the Black and Latino North Philadelphia community in which it is located.
An ongoing struggle
Monteiro started teaching at Temple since the fall of 2003, leaving a tenured position at the University of the Sciences. He was assured that he would be first in line for tenure when he was offered the job at Temple, but this promise was broken.
Over the past decade, Monteiro has organized free educational events for residents of North Philadelphia and academic conferences on the work of revolutionary intellectual W.E.B. DuBois. With decades of experience as a leading figure in the Black liberation movement, he encourages his students to participate in the many struggles for justice going on in Philadelphia. He has sponsored events on campus demanding freedom for political prisoners Mumia Abu-Jamal and Russell “Maroon” Shoatz.
The immediate chain of events was set into motion one year ago, when Monteiro played a key role in the struggle to defend the Department of African American Studies’ right to elect its own leadership. College of Liberal Arts Dean Soufas, a widely-recognized racist who at a faculty meeting claimed to “not see a Black community” around the university, rejected the Department’s democratic decision and maneuvered to install a white professor as the new chairperson.
The Dean was forced to back down after two rallies organized by students and community members drew hundreds of protesters, and current chairperson Molefi Asante was elected. However, Asante has since been sharply criticized for cooperating with the Soufas in the ongoing controversy over Monteiro’s job.
Since that struggle, Monteiro has been subject to unjust treatment in retaliation for his political activities. His right to reserve rooms and lecture halls for events has been informally revoked, and he has been prohibited from chairing doctoral dissertation committees. This culminated with the formal notification earlier this year that his contract would not be renewed for the following semester.
The coalition sees the fight for Monteiro’s reinstatement – with tenure – as part of an ongoing struggle to defend North Philadelphia from encroachments by Temple University. While historically a working class, public institution, Temple’s administration has in recent years focused on recruiting heavily in the surrounding white suburbs of Philadelphia while tuition spirals out of control. The university has a massive police force tasked with keeping community members off campus, with the exception of those who are employed in low-wage positions.
Real estate developers and the big banks that back them have made huge profits displacing North Philadelphia residents to make room for student housing. If this continues unchecked, these corporations can later make more money replacing these new residents with wealthier ones, who don’t mind gentrifying a neighborhood but are too racist to be the first whites in an area. With the continuing economic crisis, progressive students align with the community against Temple’s attacks.
Monteiro’s activism, which brings the community’s struggles to campus and university classes to the community, is in direct conflict with Temple administration’s plans, earning him the admiration of many poor and working people. Constituency committees among labor, faith, student and community groups have been formed and petitions are being circulated. An open letter demanding his reinstatement has been signed so far by over 100 scholars from around the world – including Angela Davis, Cornel West and Vijay Prashad.
Struggle escalates, Temple backs down
As the rally on March 10 continued, some participants attempted to enter the Board of Trustees meeting, which is officially open to the public. However, Temple police initially refused to allow them inside. As the demonstration was wrapping up, they finally relented and opened the doors.
Monteiro was the final speaker at the demonstration. He concluded his moving speech by saying, “If we are professors it is because of millions of unnamed Black people, many of whom became martyrs in the struggle for our freedom. We will win this struggle, we must win this struggle… If we win this it is but the beginning of other victories.”
With that, the crowd began streaming inside the meeting, quickly filling every seat in the room with many more standing in the back. Sensing the militancy of the crowd, Board of Trustees Chairman Patrick O’Connor prefaced the public comment section of the meeting with an arrogant plea that the crowd be “civilized” in its “dialogue” with the Board.
Several activists raised the concerns of the demonstration, and O’Connor repeatedly side-stepped the questions or outright refused to comment. Unwilling to accept this, protesters filled the lobby immediately after the meeting adjourned to prevent the trustees from leaving. After police began attacking the community members and students, approximately 50 people sat down and refused to leave until Temple President Neil Theobald and O’Connor met with them.
Caught by surprise, the administration quickly relented, and in less than an hour a meeting was taking place. Community and student representatives took a firm position, communicating exactly how much anger and resentment exists towards the university for its racist attacks against North Philadelphia and its attempt to deprive students of a scholar and activist of Monteiro’s stature.
O’Connor claimed that he could not comment on the matter because Monteiro had filed a grievance, and there were legal complications involved. This was quickly dispelled by activists, who pointed out that university officials have made numerous statements to the media since the controversy began. Theobald claimed ignorance about the entire dispute, and tried to appear concerned and even-handed.
At the end of the meeting, the administration agreed to a follow-up round that week to continue the negotiations. The March 10 demonstration showed the power of organization and struggle, and through unity between students and the community this movement can win its immediate demands and go on to stop Temple in its tracks.
