On March 1st, 2021, an opinion piece was published anonymously in The Prog titled, “What’s Really Happening in Xinjiang”. The author of this article, in an attempt to ostensibly combat Western propaganda on China, sustains and endorses problematic and apologist narratives of the well-documented oppressive and genocidal treatment of the Uyghur Muslim population in Xinjiang. The dangerous framing of internment camps as “education centers”, the appeals to hypocrisy as a means of downplaying legitimate concerns of the abuse of human rights, and the weaponizing of lived experiences of people of color as political ammunition are some of the many components that place this article in conflict with The Prog’s broader goal of serving as a platform for the expression of a multi-tendency progressive movement founded on bedrock values of anti-racism, inclusivity, and anti-imperialism.
The Left is not a monolith; ideologies and political beliefs will inevitably clash and different perspectives will emerge with respect to issues on the global scale, national scale, and even campus-wide scale. In many instances, unique perspectives are vital to scholarly discourse and the progression and evolution of the values of our human society. However, to contend that all ideas and perspectives are deserving of a platform is to set a dangerous precedent; even in the interest of “truth-seeking”, the realities of the disenfranchised, oppressed, and marginalized of our society are not talking points to argue over the existence of. Apologias for the actions of repressive governments are particularly egregious violations of this ideal, and they have no place in our discourse or conversations.
At present, this article is an anachronistic oversight that represents a major shortcoming in The Prog’s publication process and guidelines. Many individuals have expressed their concerns to us regarding the piece, citing it as a source for their distrust in our group and left-wing spaces in Princeton as a whole. We acknowledge, admit, and regret our mistake in publishing this article. Even with a response article by one of our staff writers countering many of the points expressed in the anonymous contribution, we as a publication must unequivocally and publicly recognize and remember our own shortcomings, such that this error is never repeated again. As a result, the article will remain on the website with a cautionary notice of its contents.
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