Title: Silencing Pro-Palestinian Voices: A War on Free Speech?
Folks, Wendy Pearlman, a political science professor at Northwestern University and interim director of the Middle East and North Africa Studies program, shares her thoughts on the ongoing suppression of pro-Palestinian voices on U.S. college campuses.
I've spent quite a while observing what's taking place and what isn't. Back in my days as a Harvard University doctoral student, I served as president of the SJP – Students for Justice in Palestine – chapter. Our little group held the occasional event, like hosting lectures or screenings, but we usually flew under the radar.
Now, with years of experience as a professor, I find it surprising how much attention pro-Palestinian activism is garnering nowadays. For one, universities have taken center stage in the battle for pro-Israel sentiments in the United States following the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023, and subsequent bombing of the Gaza Strip by Israel.
Last week's House Education and Labor Committee hearing went down amidst a whirlwind of international outrage over the massive loss of life and damage to infrastructure in Gaza. As with all forms of racism, antisemitism should not only be condemned but relentlessly pursued.
But that's not the point I want to address here. The hearing's timing suggests a different narrative. Antisemitism allegations are being leveraged to stifle criticism of Israel. Members of the committee blurred the lines between Jews and Israel, equating antisemitism to pro-Palestinian activism.
Just moments into the hearing, a video played depicting a student protest, painting this as what the government categorizes as hate speech directed at Jews: student political activism against Israel and Israeli killings of Palestinians.
Republican Representative Elise Stefanik grilled university presidents for not accepting that demanding Jewish genocide goes against their code of conduct and disciplining students who use that term.
As a fluent Arabic speaker who has penned two books on the Palestinian uprising, I know that "uprising" implies unarmed grassroots protests and is not associated with violence against Jews.
Since October 7, Wall Street financiers, CEOs, and other influential entities have placed undue pressure on universities to brand pro-Palestinian student activists as "enemies of the state."
The Anti-Defamation League and the Brandeis Center are urging administrators to thoroughly investigate SJP chapters. Some universities, including Brandeis, George Washington, and Columbia, have outright banned or suspended their SJP chapters. Meanwhile, Jewish Voice for Peace, a prominent antizionist Jewish organization, has been suspended by Columbia.
Certainly, some individuals and groups have made questionable and even derogatory comments about Israel, upsetting some Jewish students in the process. However, as recent hearings have demonstrated, many unfair and unfounded accusations are being leveled against pro-Palestinian activism.
Meanwhile, troubling reports continue to emerge about an all-out information-gathering operation targeting pro-Palestinian student activists. Some have been doxxed, seen their faces plastered on advertisement billboards, or had their job applications withdrawn or rejected. Others received death threats.
Ever since the protests, students who critique Israeli military operations have reported feeling anxious about showing up, sharing their views on social media, wearing hijabs, or speaking Arabic in public. These concerns have gained traction following recent shootings of three Palestinian students in Vermont, raising concerns of hate crimes.
University leaders are paying insufficient attention to the threats facing students who support the Palestinian cause, instead focusing solely on condemning antisemitism. But this debate is shifting to Washington, where both Congress and the Biden administration have been taking notice.
Both the House and Senate have passed resolutions condemning the student activities and labeling them as antisemitic and "support for Hamas." The Biden administration has announced several measures to combat antisemitism on campuses. Last month, several major law firms sent a joint letter to deans of law schools across the country, threatening to withhold recruitment of students if they failed to address antisemitism on campus.
So, what's the big deal about college nowadays? It appears some who wish to sustain U.S. backing for Israel view today's college students as an immediate threat. According to a poll, younger Americans hold more critical views of Israel than older generations. Rising generations, which include students who champion Black Lives Matter, environmental protection, and gun control, form broad alliances to support the Palestinian cause.
This growing rift between generations symbolizes a "shift" in American politics. The recent ruckus in hearings indicates that some will stop at nothing to dam the flood of resistance. However, that isn't entirely accurate.
The diversion of the conversation to antisemitism stifles the much-needed public discourse about U.S. foreign policy, including the proposed $14.3 billion military aid increase for Israel, or the recent veto of a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza – as violence continues between Israel and Hamas. The suppression of pro-Palestinian dissent also erodes the crucial role of academic institutions, which provide a platform for students to engage in complex discussions and develop their own principles in a tense world.
University playgrounds should be havens of knowledge, skills, and freedom, rather than arenas for challenging ideas or even uncomfortable ones.
Criticism of Israel makes some individuals uncomfortable, particularly when confronted with perspectives that differ from their own. But that's exactly what college is about.
Enrichment Data
The recent wave of pro-Palestinian activism on U.S. university campuses has resulted in a complex and contentious environment. Key points include:
- Student protests and backlash: Following the Hamas attack and subsequent Israeli bombings of the Gaza Strip, pro-Palestinian protests and encampments emerged on American college campuses. These protests led to a backlash from Jewish students who felt intimidated by the anti-Israel rhetoric.
- University reforms and government intervention: Universities have taken steps to address the issue, including installing surveillance cameras, hiring investigators, and implementing stricter discipline policies. Some have classified protester definitions of Israel as a "racist endeavor" as a form of antisemitism.
- Executive order by Trump: In response to the protests, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at combating antisemitism on campuses. The order threatened to withhold federal support from universities that failed to address Jewish student concerns.
- Congressional hearings: The resignation of University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill amidst a contentious Congressional hearing on antisemitism emphasizes the interplay between donors, anti-Palestinian lobby organizations, and suppression of pro-Palestinian perspectives on U.S. university campuses.
- Criticism and controversy: Critics argue that the crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism violates constitutional free speech rights and targets students unfairly. Rights groups and legal scholars have raised concerns that the executive order could lead to legal challenges and suppression of dissenting voices.
- Student and faculty perspectives: Students and faculty members who participated in the protests argue that the protests were not antisemitic and the crackdown suppressed legitimate free speech and activism. They point out that Israel has targeted U.S. universities for years, employing covert campaigns to quell dissenting voices.
- Public opinion and support: The protests have garnered significant public support, with an estimated 8% of U.S. college students participating in the protests. However, public opposition remains high, with roughly 42-47% of Americans against the protests.
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
