Opinion: A Congressional Hearing on the Backlash Against Pro-Palestinian Voices is Essential
Insufficient attention has been given to the plight of pro-Palestinian students who face doxing, job offer rescindments, and death threats This article explores the urgent need for a congressional hearing on the backlash they endure, highlighting the importance of addressing their welfare alongside that of Jewish students on college campuses
Wendy Pearlman, an interim director of the Middle East and North Africa Studies Program at Northwestern University, shared her personal views in this commentary. More opinions can be found on CNN.
Following last week's congressional hearing on antisemitism, University of Pennsylvania's Liz Magill resigned, while Harvard's Claudine Gay and Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sally Kornbluth have faced calls for their removal but remain in their positions. The outcry continues.
Wendy Pearlman
Maia Rosenfeld
Ive been paying close attention to whats being discussed during this uproarand what isnt.
Twenty years ago, when I was a graduate student, I served as the president of the Harvard chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). Our efforts, which mainly consisted of sponsoring lectures and film screenings, didn't receive much attention.
Today, as a professor at Northwestern University, I am amazed by the significant shift that has occurred. There is now a heightened level of attention on pro-Palestinian student activism. This can be largely attributed to the recent events, such as the attack by Hamas on October 7 and the subsequent bombing of Gaza by Israel. Universities have now become a key battleground in the public opinion battle regarding US support for Israel.
The recent hearing held by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce coincided with global outrage over the extensive loss of life and damage in Gaza. Antisemitism, along with all other forms of racism, must be condemned and opposed universally without any exceptions.
However, the timing of this hearing implies to me that there may be another motive at play. Accusations of antisemitism are being leveraged to suppress criticism of the Israeli government. Members of the committee have conflated Jews with Israel and equated antisemitism with support for the Palestinian cause.
President of Harvard University Claudine Gay
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Opinion: Harvard is right to back its president
Approximately three minutes into the hearing, a video of student protests was shown, suggesting to lawmakers that this was the type of anti-Semitic behavior they were referring to: students protesting Israel's actions and the killing of Palestinian civilians. GOP Representative Elise Stefanik criticized university presidents for not explicitly condemning calls for genocide against Jews and also admonished them for students' use of the term "intifada," which she characterized as a call for genocide against the Jewish people.
Being an Arabic speaker who authored two books on Palestinian intifadas, I understand the term to mean "popular uprising," and its connection to nonviolent grassroots protest.
During my time in SJP, I never anticipated that influential groups would take an interest in our actions. However, Wall Street financiers and CEOs have exerted pressure on universities to blacklist student activists since October 7th.
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The Anti-Defamation League and Brandeis Center have called for a closer examination of SJP chapters, alleging that students are providing support to terrorists. In response, schools including Brandeis, George Washington University, and Columbia have taken action to ban or suspend their SJP chapters. Columbia has also suspended the Jewish Voice for Peace, a Jewish anti-Zionist organization in solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle.
While it is true that some individuals and groups have recently voiced criticism of Israel in ways that are questionable or objectionable, causing some Jewish students to feel unsafe, there have also been unjust and inaccurate allegations made against pro-Palestinian activism, as seen in a recent hearing.
Meanwhile, there have been distressing reports of coordinated information-gathering campaigns targeting pro-Palestinian student activists nationwide. Some have been exposed through doxxing or had their faces prominently displayed on billboard trucks. Others have had job offers withdrawn or denied. Some have even been subjected to death threats.
Harvard University President Claudine Gay delivers an opening statement as she attends a House hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on December 5.
Ken Cedeno/Reuters
My students are not engaging in debates about genocide; instead, they are seeking the freedom to learn. In recent weeks, students who have voiced criticism of Israel's military actions have shared their fear of expressing themselves openly, whether it be on social media, wearing keffiyehs, or speaking Arabic in public. These fears have taken on added significance after the shooting in Vermont of three Palestinian students, one of whom was left paralyzed, and which is being investigated as a potential hate crime.
University administrators have neglected to address the risks faced by students advocating for the Palestinian cause, choosing instead to condemn antisemitism. This focus has been reflected in Washington, where both the Senate and House have passed resolutions denouncing student activities labeled as antisemitic and "pro-Hamas." The Biden administration has also announced measures to combat antisemitism at schools and universities. Additionally, top law firms recently sent a joint letter to law school deans threatening not to hire their students unless antisemitism on campus is addressed.
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The generation gap in American politics is evident, and the backlash from last week's hearing shows efforts to suppress it. This is unacceptable. Moving from discussing Israel to focusing on antisemitism hinders important dialogue on US policies, including a proposal for $14.3 billion in military aid to Israel and the recent veto of a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.
The pushback against supporters of Palestine also undermines the crucial function of academic institutions as spaces for students to interact, grapple with complex issues, and learn how to put their principles into action in a turbulent world.
Colleges are meant to equip students with the knowledge, abilities, and autonomy to comprehend and enhance the world. Higher education institutions should offer environments that are protected from violence and harassment, rather than from ideas that are difficult or unsettling.
Criticism of Israel will leave some feeling uncomfortable; confronting perspectives different from ones own usually does. But that is, after all, what college is all about.
