Cadence
engineer fired for activism
By Elise Ackerman and Lisa Fernandez
Mercury News (Bayarea)
May 29, 2002
FIRM'S LETTER CITES WORK IN BETHLEHEM
James Hanna never imagined his Middle East vacation would cost
him his job.
Disturbed by televised images of Israeli military forces invading
Palestinian cities and towns, the 24-year-old computer engineer
hired as a contract employee took a 10-day leave from his job at
the Munich office of Cadence Design Systems in late April to do
humanitarian work with the International Solidarity Movement, a
group of pro-Palestinian activists who believe in non-violent resistance
to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
``For me, it was the injustice, the fact that nobody really seemed
to care,'' said Hanna, who is a U.S. citizen.
Hanna was detained by the Israeli army May 2 after he participated
in an attempt to deliver food to armed gunmen and others hiding
in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. Israel, which viewed many
of the Palestinians in the church as suspected terrorists, deported
Hanna on May 4.
When Hanna returned to work the following week, he was fired. ``Due
to unacceptable conduct and political actions in a geographical
area where Cadence does business (Israel), we hereby terminate your
work contract,'' his dismissal letter stated.
A spokesman for the San Jose company, which is a leading provider
of software used to design chips and electronic devices, confirmed
that Hanna's employment contract had been terminated but declined
to elaborate. ``There was an appropriate and justifiable reason,''
said spokesman Kevin Kimball.
Amir Segez-Sayag, a spokesman for the Israeli Consulate in San
Francisco, said the solidarity group's attempt to storm the church
by rushing past Israeli soldiers was not a benign act of peaceful
protesters. ``This is not any kind of humanitarian group that breaks
into a church and makes provocation,'' he said.
Dean Fryer, a spokesman for the California Department of Industrial
Relations, said firing an employee for political activity is illegal
in California. However, the state law generally does not apply to
contractors like Hanna or to employees of foreign subsidiaries.
Students dropped
Hanna isn't the only person with California connections to face
negative consequences for involvement in the Bethlehem incident.
Two students who joined Hanna in the action at the church were punished
by their universities.
Robert O'Neill, a 21-year-old student at the University of California-Berkeley,
and Nauman Zaidi, a 26-year-old from UC-Riverside, were dropped
from their overseas program at the American University in Cairo
for violating an agreement they signed with the university that
prohibited them from traveling to dangerous places and war zones,
university officials said.
O'Neill and Zaidi returned to the United States on Monday after
spending more than two weeks in Israeli custody attempting to fight
deportation orders.
``In the Middle East, students are not allowed to go to the West
Bank and Gaza, where they put themselves and others in danger,''
said UC spokesman Hanan Eisenman.
Eisenman said the rule is consistent throughout the system's overseas
program. ``In India, there are hot spots in Kashmir that are just
`no go' zones.''
Alan Schlosser, legal director of the American Civil Liberties
Union of Northern California, said that if Cadence fired Hanna for
his political activities, it raises serious civil liberties questions.
``Free speech and political activities would be seriously hampered
if a private employer were able to retaliate for political actions,''
Schlosser said.
Sharing details
Hanna said he is still at a loss to explain what happened to him.
``I went to Israel on my personal time and did not affiliate myself
with my company while I was there. I didn't associate with any militant
or radical groups, and I conducted what I thought were thoroughly
humanitarian acts,'' he said.
Hanna said he was happy to talk to his manager about his experience
in Israel and voluntarily informed him of the details of the trip,
including his work at a school and the two days he spent in a refugee
camp outside of Bethlehem.
``I stressed the non-violent and humanitarian aspect of what I
had done,'' Hanna said.
But according to Hanna, his boss told him that higher-ups in San
Jose were concerned about his connections to Palestinian militants.
``He said they were worried I might do this kind of thing in the
future,'' Hanna recalled.
Hanna said he would never align with militants, in part because
his family, many of whom live in Egypt, have been persecuted by
Muslims there for holding fast to their Christian beliefs.
``I want people to be aware of what happened to me, so they can
understand what corporate America is thinking and doing in regards
to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,'' he said. ``People who speak
out or act on behalf of the Palestinian people are being punished,
both in the corporate and academic spheres.''
To show your disgust at Cadence's action, here is their contact
details:
WEB: http://www.cadence.com
NORTH AMERICA
Sales information
Phone: 800.746.6223
Email: salesinfo@cadence.com
Corporate headquaters
2655 Seely Avenue
San Jose, CA 95134
Phone: 408.943.1234
Arizona
Southwest Business Center
4500 S. Lakeshore Drive,
Suite 695
Tempe, AZ 85282
Phone: 602.413.9550
Fax: 602.413.9553
California
1960 E. Grand Avenue,
Suite 1070
El Segundo, CA 90245
Phone: 310.414.1300
Fax: 310.414.3401
16279 Laguna Canyon Road
Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: 949.788.6080
Fax: 949.788.6099
6700 Koll Center Parkway,
Suite 160
Pleasanton, CA 94566
Phone: 408.895.3202
Fax: 925.461.5341
Canada
1130 Morrison Drive,
Suite 240
Ottawa, Ontario K2H-9N6
Phone: 613.828.5626
Fax: 613.828.8793
Colorado
Denver West Office Complex
360 Interlocken Blvd.,
Suite 101
Broomfield, CO 80021-3440
Phone: 303.464.6500
Fax: 303.464.5019
Sales Fax: 303.464.5001
3307 South College Ave.
Suite 211
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: 970.282.4443
Fax: 970.282.8046
Florida
100 Rialto Place, Suite 600
Melbourne, FL 32901
Phone: 407.674.2400
Fax: 407.951.2673
390 North Orange Ave.,
Suite 625
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.650.3500
Fax: 407.648.9229
Illinois
Three Woodfield Lakes
900 N. National Parkway,
Suite 200
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Phone: 847.619.6600
Fax: 847.619.6675
Maryland
6210 Old Dobbin Lane
Columbia, MD 21045
Phone: 410.290.1999
Fax: 410.290.0353
Massachusetts
270 Billerica Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
Phone: 978.667.8811
Fax: 978.262.6606
Minnesota
6 Pine Tree Drive,
Suite 300
Arden Hills, MN 55112
Phone: 651.483.6358
Fax: 651.766.3290
New Jersey
230 Half Mile Road,
2nd Floor
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732.450.0901
Fax: 732.450.9392
35 Spring Street
Murray Hill Technology Center
New Providence, NJ 07974
Phone: 908.898.2400
Fax: 908.898.1435
New York
300 Westage Business Center,
Suite 355
Fishkill, NY 12524
Phone: 914.897.2738
Fax: 914.897.2739
North Carolina
Cadence & Quickturn
RTP
200 Regency Forest Drive,
Suite 260
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: 919.481.6800
Fax: 919.469.2219
Pennsylvania
7535 Windsor Drive,
Suite A200
Iron Run Corporate Center
Allentown, PA 18195
Phone: 610.398.6300
Fax: 610.530.7985
Oregon
20450 NW Amberwood Drive,
Suite 130
Beaverton, OR 97006
Phone: 503.439.3100
Analog fax: 503.439.1544
Sales fax: 503.439.1285
13221 SW 68th Parkway,
Suite 200
Portland OR 97223
Phone: 503.671.9500
Analog fax: 503.671.9501
IC sales phone: 503.968.4874
Sales fax: 503.968.5001
Texas
4516 Seton Center Parkway,
Suite 300
Austin, Texas 78759
Phone: 512.349.1100
Fax: 512.349.7130
14135 Midway Road,
Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75244
Phone: 972.233.4900
Fax: 972.720.5901
Washington
Ridgewood Corporate Square
320 120th Avenue NE,
Suite B-103
Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone: 425.451.2360
Fax: 425.451.1871
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EUROPE
European headquarters
United Kingdom
Bagshot Road
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 0PH, UK
Phone: +44.1344.360333
Fax: +44.1344.360324
Finland
Äyritie 12 A
FIN-01510 Vantaa
Finland
Tel: +358.10.218.2220
Fax: +358.10.218.2222
France
Batiment Avenir
18 Grange Dame Rose
BP 128, Velizy-Cedex,
Paris 78140, France
Phone: +33.1.34.88.53.00
Fax: +33.1.34.88.53.01
Germany
Mozartstrasse 2
D-85622 Feldkirchen
Germany
Phone: +49.89.4563.0
Fax: +49.89.4563.1800
Ireland
Filenet House
Ground Floor, Block U
Eastpoint Business Park
Fairview, Dublin 3
Ireland
Phone: +353.1.805.4300
Fax: +353.1.805.4310
Israel
85 Medinat Hayehudim St
Fifth Floor
Herzelia 46766
Israel
Phone: +972.99511799
Fax: +972.99511796
Italy
Milanofiori - Strada 7
Palazzo R/3
20089 Rossano (Milan)
Italy
Phone: +39.02.57558-1
Fax: +39.02.8254187
Sweden
Isafjordsgatan 30 C
SE 164 40 Kista
Stockholm
Sweden
Phone: +46.856612300
Fax: +46.87520250
United Kingdom
Bagshot Road
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 0PH, UK
Phone: +44.1344.360333
Fax: +44.1344.360324
ASIA
China
Beijing Cadence Electronics Technology Company Ltd.
Cadence China Ltd. Beijing Representative Office
Room 301-304, Floor 3,Tower A, Raycom Infotech Park, # 2 Science
Institute South Road,
Zhong Guan Cun, Haidian District,
Beijing, P.R.China 100080
Phone: 86.10.8287.2200
Fax: 86.10.6250.9241
Cadence China Ltd. Chengdu Representative Office
Unit D, F31, First City Plaza, # 308 Shun Cheng Street,
Chengdu, P.R.China 610017
Phone: 86.28.86527.996
Fax: 86.28.86527.991
Beijing Cadence Electronics Technology Company Ltd. Shanghai
Branch
Cadence China Ltd. Shanghai Representative Office
Room 4601-4603, Floor 46, Plaza 66,
No.1266, Nanjing Road West,
Jingan District, Shanghai, P.R. China 200040
Phone: 86.21.6288.2600
Fax: 86.21.6288.2601
Cadence China Ltd. Shenzhen Representative Office
B1, F22, C Building, Electronics Science & Technology
Bldg., # 2070 Shennan Zhong Road,
Shenzhen, P.R. China 518031
Phone: 86.755.3273.750
Fax: 86.755.3273.426
Hong Kong
Cadence Design Systems, Asia, Ltd.
Suites 03-07, 23A Floor, Tower 2
The Gateway, 25 Canton Road
Tsimshatsui, Kowloon,
Hong Kong
Phone: 852.2377.7111
Fax: 852.2377.2802
Singapore
Cadence Design Systems (S) Pte Ltd.
1 International Business Park
Suite 04-11/12 The Synergy
Singapore 609917
Phone: 65.567.8600
Fax: 65.569.0688
Taiwan
Cadence Design Systems III B.V., Taiwan Branch
Suite 1, 9th Floor,
No. 188, Sec. 5
Nanking E. Road
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Phone: 886.2.2769.8250
Fax: 886.2.2747.9218
Cadence Design Systems III B.V., Taiwan Branch
2nd Floor No 7,
R&D 2nd Road
Science Based Industrial Park,
Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Phone: 886.3.577.8951
Fax: 886.3.578.0422
India
Cadence Design Systems (India) PVT Ltd.
First Floor, "Embassy Classic"
No. 11, Vittal Mallya Road
Bangalore 560001 India
Phone: 91.80.212.2028
Fax: 91.80.212.2043
Korea
Cadence Korea, Ltd.
6Fl., KPS Building. 196
Keumgok-Dong, Bundang-Gu
Sungnam-Si, Kyunggi-Do
463-726 Korea
Phone: 82.31.728.3114
Fax: 82.31.728.3115
JAPAN
Cadence Design Systems, Japan
3-17-6 Shin-Yokohama
Kohoku-ku, Yokohama
222.0033, Japan
Phone: 81.45.475.2221
Fax: 81.45.475.2451
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Action Alert:
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
AMERICAN MUSLIMS FOR JERUSALEM
US company fires activist for aiding Palestinians - Action Requested
Alhamdulillah, we were all relieved at the release of American
humanitarians Dr. Riad Abdelkarim and Ms. Dallel Mohmed from Israeli
jail recently. The combined efforts of their families, civic organizations,
select members of Congress and mobilized community members undoubtedly
helped secure their return home.
But the fight is not over. Another American was just penalized
for working to provide humanitarian assistance to besieged Palestinians.
Unless we continue to respond to incidents like this, the campaign
of intimidation will succeed.
DETAILS:
James Hanna, a 24-year-old computer engineer hired as a contract
employee at the Munich office of Cadence Design Systems took a 10-day
leave from his job in late April to do humanitarian work with the
International Solidarity Movement (ISM). ISM is a group of activists
from across the world working to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians
and joining with Palestinians in non-violent resistance to the Israeli
occupation.
Hanna was arrested by the Israeli army May 2 after he participated
in an attempt to deliver food to Palestinians trapped in the Church
of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Israel deported Hanna on May 4. When
Hanna returned to work the following week, he was fired. Due
to unacceptable conduct and political actions in a geographical
area where Cadence does business (Israel), we hereby terminate your
work contract,'' his dismissal letter stated.
Cadence spokesman Kevin Kimball confirmed that Hanna's employment
contract had been terminated, saying there was an appropriate
and justifiable reason.'' Cadence, based in San Jose, California,
is a leading provider of software used to design chips and electronic
devices.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Call Cadence at (408) 943-1234. Ask to speak with Kevin Kimball.
You will most likely be transferred to his voicemail. Leave a polite
message telling him how disappointed you are with the company's
actions. An American company should not penalize its employees for
providing humanitarian assistance to needy people anywhere in the
world. This type of volunteer humanitarian work should be encouraged
and applauded by socially responsible corporations.
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