Trump pardoned the guy who stormed the capital while wearing a Camp Auschwitz shirt with a Nazi death skull, along with many other avowed white supremacists. Trump could not care less about antisemitism. It’s about control and trying to chill further protests and demonstrations against the horrible actions he’s taken. He’s now calling protests against Tesla and Musk illegal and collusive (uh, duh, like every protest). Wave goodbye to freedom of speech as it recedes in the distance.
The administration has tipped their hand here in a number of ways.... first is that they seemed not to realize Khalil has a green card rather than a student visa, and have repeatedly claimed that his lawful permanent residence is "revoked" despite failing to go through proper procedure for that action. Second, they have ADMITTED that he broke no laws and is not currently being charged with criminal activity. If there is so much evidence of the danger he poses, where are the criminal charges?
The truth is that no matter how distasteful or upsetting one finds his behavior, it is ultimately just speech, protected by the First Amendment, and the burden of proof should be on the government to demonstrate otherwise. His arrest and detention are unconstitutional and rather than making Jewish Americans safer, this oppressive action puts ALL OF US at risk.
They’re making an example out of him. The “strategy” of this administration is shoot first, ask questions later. Even if a judge finds that the US government is wrong in the actions they’ve taken against him, this will have lasting effects on free speech. Not many folks want to try the limits of the DOJ- it’s extremely expensive and tedious and can easily ruin a person’s life, even if in the end, they are found innocent.
Remember Trump’s reaction to the tiki torch protest in Charlottesville? “Good people on both sides?” He didn’t seem concerned about anti-Semitic speech back then. He’s not concerned about anti-Semitic speech and signals by his own “First Buddy.” Why this and why now?
Exactly, I think the thing to understand here is that moves like this are intended to have a chilling effect on free speech AND IT'S WORKING. There are many protests happening, but they tend to be smaller than in 2017. Anecdotally, when asked why they do not attend, opponents of the administration are saying they fear state violence, that the police and military will be used against protesters. The threats of defunding, deportation, and stochastic terrorism (if you get put on blast by Trump and his allies) and causing people to censor themselves. It is unsettlingly similar to how the Nazis suppressed domestic opposition in the 1930s.
I have so many questions. Please excuse my ignorance and feel free to correct me if needed.
It seems like the administration may be purposely using inflammatory language, for example “Pro-Hamas” versus “Pro-Palestine”. Being Pro-Palestine doesn’t necessarily make someone Pro-Hamas or antisemitic, correct? We can care for Jewish and Palestinian people and their safety and well-being.
Are Jewish students being harmed, verbally or physically? Is there evidence to support that Khalil was dispersing pamphlets related to Hamas and Hezbollah, or that he has ties to Hamas? I feel like more facts are needed (not for this Preamble but for the case as a whole).
'Related to Hamas or Hezbollah' is so broad; I would also like to see more info. There is a big difference between a pamphlet that explains the historical issues behind the current situation and a pamphlet that calls for destruction of a group. If it was something like the former, does it matter who might have produced it if it is factual and has no inflammatory language? All of that context matters but instead we're supposed to assume the worst.
(And don't even get me started on that childish social media post. I would like those in governance to act like adults, thanks.)
By their logic, every American is Pro-MAGA because we are pro-America. But no, we do not necessarily support extremists just because the extremists found their way into power here in the United States.
“If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here.”
I believe that applies to both Netanyahu, and the presidents that supplied the bombs.
To me this is where due process should play out. It would allow us to see the evidence of whether the accusations against him or real or not. Is he not afforded that?
That’s.. exactly what I’m saying. Everyone is saying he’s guilty with no actual evidence. I’m asking where everyone’s concern for due process is and why people are so easily accepting that he did all these things based off what? Social media posts that no one validated and Trump’s unironic definitions of inciting violence and terrorism. There shouldn’t be people screaming that he should be deported over hearsay
Good answer! Sure, I can find videos of statements made during emotional protests, but where is the verification and study of them plus witnesses? It took the FBI months to follow up on the Jan 6 debacle and then make arrests. I am hoping everyone can learn from this.
Honest question regarding the Columbia funding removal - what is the difference between anti-discrimination and DEI initiatives? The administration is threatening universities with removal of funding if they have DEI initiatives in place (correct?) - but they are also removing funding at Columbia for not having adequate anti-discrimination rules. I’m sure there is some difference that I don’t understand - what is it?
Ding ding ding!! Exactly: you nailed the contradiction here. There is not a difference, it’s just the millionth instance of the Trump administration not governing on any sort of principle. They laugh at any claims of discrimination existing, unless it has to do with Israel. They think parents should have absolute power over the government when it comes to their child even if that means infecting classrooms with measles, unless their child needs gender affirming care, then their state’s governor knows what is best for the child. All government programs are wasteful until proven otherwise, unless it’s a program that enriches the president and his friends. What’s a good name for people who always want their cake while eating it too? Cake boys maybe?
Sincere question. Aren't the speeches that Vance and Musk gave to Germany also striking hypocrisy in light of this arrest? If I understand it correctly, both of them were saying TO Germany that they were suppressing Free Speech by not allowing hate speech and anything far-right/Na-zi in any form. They were rude and almost hostile to an Allie that has worked hard to atone for the atrocities of their past. Doesn't this situation with Khalil fly in the face of those [phenomenally inappropriate] comments and speeches?
Karen, YUP! Good call, add it to the list. They're literally telling Germany they shouldn't restrict Nazi speech while simultaneously trying to deport someone for pro-Palestinian speech. It's the exact same playbook of selective "free speech" advocacy - freedom for views they like, punishment for views they don't.
This administration is out of control- their meanness is unjustifiable (see the Shalom post). I am anxious, worried, angry, and ashamed of so much of the behavior coming from the people who are the faces and words representing us as citizens.
I appreciate this article and I have an honest question. What should be done to protect the Jewish students on university campuses and defend their access to the education they are paying for? The dramatic rise in and defense of antisemitism in our country since October 7 is equally concerning
It’s an interesting question, and one worth diving into. I think I’d first ask whether you believe there’s a difference between being anti-Israel vs antisemitic? Much of the online commentary I’ve seen seems to conflate the two, and not allowing for a distinction gives free reign to a government to act how it wants under the protection of the Jewish faith and heritage.
Jewish students ought and should be protected, but we have a long history in our country of citizens feeling unsafe in order to have free speech. Women get catcalled. BIPOC people get jeered at. It’s an age-old question of where to draw the line between free speech and citizen protection.
Your second paragraph really resonated with me. I live in Columbus Ohio where we’ve had masked neo-nazis march through our streets with swastika flags yelling the n word and boogaloo boys gathered with their militia tactical and large guns. I felt very unsafe with both but they were allowed to exist. I do know universities have different laws applying on their campuses vs city streets. The university does have an obligation to its students. That said I felt safer at the OSU demonstration than either of the prior scenarios.
If this man had occupied university buildings and led the charge while wearing a white hood and harassing blacks, would we really be okay with people feeling unsafe, though? There seems to always be a double standard when it comes to the treatment of the Jewish community.
To be clear, I'm not "okay" with people feeling unsafe - but I do recognize that it may be a side effect to allowing free speech. White supremacist groups have protests all the time that make Black people unsafe. Ultimately, we have to define when harassment and hate speech cross the line into active violence or incitement of violence.
Can you give a more express example of where there is a "double standard" against Jewish people? And are you differentiating between Jewish people and the Israeli government - or conflating the two?
The congressional hearings to address antisemitism on college campuses comes to mind. Calling for the genocide of Jews is apparently only bullying or harassment in certain contexts. Can you imagine a reality in which presidents of elite institutions defend individuals calling for the extermination of blacks?
Yep. American history is steeped in elite institutions defending the extermination or subjugation of Black people. More currently, white supremacist groups frequently publish and post fliers calling for white dominance. But let's examine the question asked by Elise Stefanik: "Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard's rules on bullying and harassment?" Claudine Gay's response was that "it can be, depending on context." Then continued on to state that Harvard takes action when the speech "crosses into conduct that amounts to bullying, harassment, intimidation," and that Harvard embraces "a commitment to free expression even of views that are objectionable, offensive, hateful."
Honestly, that sounds incredibly reasonable to me. As always, we have to find the balance between free speech and safety.
If this kid did something illegal arrest him and charge him. Like the destruction of property. And there are laws against menacing and threatening people. But Trump & Crew are not making claims of any illegal activity. They removed him to make a point.
And that point is - anything Trump doesn't like is "illegal". Like not buying a Tesla because Elon Mush is a ding dong. Trump is screaming that is illegal because he doesn't like it. At some point someone needs to stand up to him or I know for sure my views will get me arrested.
Hmm. You’re comparing apples and oranges though. The KKK both threatened and enacted bodily harm to its targets. Unless I missed it (haven’t finished reading yet), I didn’t see the same from Khalil. Isn’t protesting government different from attacking individuals based on race? Personally I think Israel should have a right to a homeland and be treated sensitively due to the history. I’m just not sure these are comparable circumstances.
Sure, it's not a direct comparison, but if Hamas were anti-black in the same way they are anti-Jewish I don't think we'd be having a free speech debate.
I also am not suggesting this should be done for Jewish safety, but Khalil openly expressed support and distributed materials for a terrorist organization. Legally, I think he is deportable.
This is a good point. I’m wondering will the same energy be applied to the scenario you speak of? If this is in the name of protecting the Jewish community, will there be IDing of those folks? Will some QAnon folks be investigated for blatantly spewing that Jewish people are part of a cabal? I don’t know enough about this situation, I haven’t seen enough evidence for either side to know if anything illegal was done by Mahmoud, but the lack of due process is a scary precedent.
I agree that this speech is protected under the first amendment. However, that doesn't mean that it has to be tolerated by universities. Universities absolutely have the right (and responsibility) to crack down on catcalling, racism, anti-Semitism, etc. But there is a very, very clear line between university-specific consequences (expulsion, suspension, etc) and arrest or deportation.
To be clear, I also think universities should distinguish between anti-Israeli-government speech and anti-Jewish speech. While I have mostly not seen explicitly anti-Jewish sentiments from my pro-Palestine friends, I have seen *some* (and here, I want to stress that this is coming from people I know, not online randos). I don't think the anti-Jewish speech is acceptable; I do think critiques of the Israeli government and calls for Palestinian freedom are acceptable (and I generally agree with them).
To me this seems like the ultimate tension how to protect Jewish students and how to protect free speech. Ultimately it seems like the universities could have done more to protect their students, quicker, and this is what led us here. I also wonder if there are examples of schools who found a way to do things better. And what we can learn from them.
Most of the universities that were actually having Jewish or Zionist students blocked did install task forces and really crack down on the intensity of the protests, but of course Trump and Friends don't want to acknowledge that sadly. Plus most of the schools losing the most federal money also have the biggest Jewish populations too, so again, it isn't about Trump being FOR the Jews while he lets Elon and Bannon wave Nazi salutes around.
This is an interesting moment for me. I think I actually agree with considering removing him (the Hamas allegations, if true, are really serious and if he dislikes the US so much, he had the choice to choose to immigrate somewhere else, like Canada) but in terms of what he represents (free speech), I ultimately believe that he should not be deported.
I’m a liberal through and through and I’m against what this precedent would mean but I ALSO have a Master’s degree in Middle Eastern studies. Since living in the Middle East, I have always been pro-Palestine and been critical of the government of Israel, but found what I saw in the pro-Palestine protests last year quite horrifying, and see very real anti-Jewish sentiment on both the right and the left, which makes me sad and worried for my Jewish friends at this moment.
What happened in Gaza is inexcusable but it does not justify targeting and harassing Jewish folks in general, and while I know that the majority of protestors drew that line, many did not, and there were serious agitators (like potentially this person) who stirred that up.
Thanks Ashley! I wonder though: does this removal help the cause of easing anti-Jewish sentiment? I think the opposite, at least in the way it’s being done. The Trump administration is making a flashy show of unconditional support for Israel that will only support the belief of anyone who thinks Israel has some sort of unexplainable power over the United States. Why is only antisemitism a problem, but *every* other form of discrimination (even outside of Jewish/Muslim conflict) is dismissed as nonexistent by the Trump admin? This could have been done with a condemnation of hatred in all forms, but the one-sided approach proves that isn’t their goal. It’s an intentional move to keep fanning the flames of hatred.
I didn’t suggest it would reduce anti-Jewish sentiment, nor did I suggest that anti-Jewish sentiment is the only discrimination that matters, nor did I defend the Trump administration’s policies on discrimination. I referenced the anti-Jewish sentiment to explain why I, a person who believes in free speech and democratic values, do not believe that the participants in pro-Palestine protests were as universally good as I feel like they are currently treated in discourse, which I also think is bad for fanning the flames of divisiveness - lots of Jewish folks, typically reliable Dem voters, voted for Trump (mistakenly, in my opinion) this year because of the rise of anti-Jewish sentiment on the left and Trump’s assurances he would support Israel. In as much as this move entrenches people in an anti-Israel stance, so too does allowing unchecked discourse against a historically marginalized group entrench them on the other side.
Why is it that it’s so easy for us to condemn discrimination against almost all groups, but when someone says “hey, they’re really saying some uncool stuff about Jewish people” it becomes a conversation about geopolitics?
Ashley, I think we had a bit of a misunderstanding, and I wanted to apologize. Re-reading my response, I can see how it came across as challenging your position when that wasn't my intention at all.
I completely agree with your nuanced take on the situation. I didn't mean to suggest you were advocating for his removal - I understood you were saying that while there might be legitimate concerns about his actions (if the allegations are true), you ultimately believe he shouldn't be deported because of free speech principles.
What I was trying to express was building on your point: that even if someone believes he should be removed (which you were considering), such a removal might actually make things worse for Jewish Americans by further entrenching divisiveness. I think we're actually in agreement that the administration's approach is fanning flames rather than addressing real concerns.
I appreciate your thoughtful perspective as someone with expertise in Middle Eastern studies who can hold multiple complex truths simultaneously - condemning antisemitism while also being critical of certain Israeli government policies, and recognizing the importance of free speech while also acknowledging when protests cross lines.
Sorry for the confusion. These are complicated issues with a lot of nuance, and sometimes text conversations don't capture the full intent behind our words.
Also, to your point about people who somehow found themselves voting for Trump because they are pro-Palestine (🫤) I think this is a huge turning point for them. I see some red hat wearing people too who brand themselves as first amendment crusaders who are really struggling to perform the usual gymnastics they do to justify their guys in power. They are freaking out.
Thank you so much for clarifying! I will admit to being a bit trigger happy these days as I’ve had a (scary) number of interactions over the last year where when raise that I am worried about anti-Jewishness in our society, I am accused of being pro-genocide. I appreciate this governerd community for not being like that!
I take your points and agree fully. This admin is absolutely using this as a flashpoint moment to further divide people and as a power grab.
I also agree that it’s bad for Jewish-Americans and likely also Arab-Americans, who will have “terrorist” stereotype dredged up. Like most things in this admin, it’s truly terrible for everyone.
I agree with Ashley. Jewish Americans should not be judged for Isreal anymore than Arab Americans should be judged for the treatment of the women in Iran or Afghanistan. I feel this is part of the problem.
Ashley and Deanna, I agree! However, I went to an antisemitism symposium hosted by the Jewish community in the metro Kc area, and all I heard all weekend was: saying anything negative about isreal, Netanyahu, etc., endangered KC Jews. So, that was the real perception, along with a whole lot of other questionable things that I will spare you.
I think you’re right about a lot of this, and I don’t think you’d find anyone that would say an arrest for violent or hateful actions was wrong. But the crux of the concern is your indication of “potentially” this person. Why is he being arrested and moved several states away without a single verbalized charge? It’s a serious concern.
That’s why I ultimately don’t agree with this - this administration is clearly suspect and will obviously use winning this fight as a pretext to deploy it against tons of people this doesn’t apply to.
That said, in terms of this individual case, so far my sympathy is limited. Has he denied being the person in the first video Sharon shared, with the chants of “destroying Zionists”? I understand that Zionism is a political movement but “Zionist” is ALSO a longstanding slur against Jewish people and if I’m not going to accept that Elon was just “throwing his heart out,” I’m also not going to accept that using a longstanding, intentional slur is just “referencing a political movement objectively.”
This is an incidence, for me, where I support him on principle without necessarily supporting as a person.
Of course, if evidence comes to light that he was genuinely peacefully protesting without using hate speech, I’ll change my mind.
As a green card holder, there are things one can do to risk deportation. Since Hamas has been declared a terrorist organization, any person endorsing or espousing terrorist activity or encouraging others to do so is at risk of deportation. He is a leader of an organization that has celebrated the attacks of Oct 7 and has promoted Hamas and promotes the total elimination of western civilization. There is precedent by SCOTUS back in 1972, kleindienat vs mandel which gives the court broad authority to both Congress and the executive branch with regard to immigration law, non-citizens and ideology. We shall see what the courts ultimately decide…
I'm certainly extremely interested in what evidence will be brought against Khalil. I've seen a lot of people, including your comment here, state with certainty the evidence against him - and yet, the government itself has not revealed any evidence and I've struggled to come up with much of anything online. Due process certainly needs to play out (though the government whisking Khalil away to a more sympathetic court jurisdiction raises rather red flags to me...)
Ashley, you are correct. Due process will need to play out here. I was merely pointing out where it seems some of the confusion may lie in the matter. I think it will largely depend on his role in the organization he is purportedly affiliated with.
You are flinging around incendiary statements as if they are fact and they are not. Furthermore, the fact pattern in the Kleindienst case involved a Belgian journalist who wanted to visit the United States to talk about Communism, not somebody who, like Khalil, is a legal permanent resident. And since when does Congress and the Executive branch have broad authority over ideology? As far as I know, the USA has not yet become Russia or North Korea or China.
I'm Jewish, and I'm a liberal. I have seen new instances of genuine anti-Semitism from friends and acquaintances on the left since October 7th (and by anti-Semitic, I mean explicitly anti-Jewish, not anti-Israel). And I have seen even more overt and frightening anti-Semitism from those on the right long before October 7th, and from people in power as well as laypeople.
The Trump administration does not care about anti-Semitism one bit (well, except those in the administration who are proponents of it). They care about punishing groups they don't like (universities, leftists, protestors, you name it). I struggle to see how this move helps me.
Truthfully, I have felt deep frustration with those on the left who depicted Harris and Trump as equal evils, in particular around the horrors in Palestine. I cannot imagine the Harris administration making a move like this. But people are allowed to frustrate me without being deported.
The lunacy of Donald* pretending to be bothered by alleged anti-semitism is wild, considering that the way he treated President Zelensky (who is Jewish) was straight out of the Nazi playbook.
*I have started referring to him as “Donald” because Mary Trump says he absolutely hates it.
I learned a lot more about this case via the Preamble, so thank you. I wonder like another poster about the use of pro-Hamas language vs pro-Palestine. Is it justified based on the evidence or strategic to build a case? It makes me wonder have others had their rights stripped away under purported anti-terrorism efforts especially in the years that followed 9/11. My guess is yes they probably have, and that’s scary to me.
Elon using a Nazi salute, Trump saying KKK members are good people tell me that this administration doesn’t care about those that are Jewish . This administration is about control and scaring the American people into obedience and about keeping the borders closed.
I was in DC this past weekend . I was touring around when the removal of the BLM street was being removed AND on Saturday listening to a great presentation about Immigration probably while Khalil Moumand was being kidnapped.
I also watched a middle school student wearing a maga hat take a picture of a swaztika in the Holocaust museum.
Hi Beth. I think you may have valid points to make but wanted to call out that you may not have all the facts. Trump never said KKK members are good people and Elon’s gesture is debatable if it was a Nazi salute.
EM is not ignorant, and he has previously expressed heartfelt gratitude towards crowds with other hand gestures. He knew what he was doing that day, and he did twice, with emphasis. He knew it would spark debate, which is how the Overton window shifts. If it was truly ‘an awkward gesture’, he could have simply acknowledged that and apologized, but instead, he threw out a comment about Hitler accusations being ‘tired’. Wherever we sit on the political spectrum, a sieg heil, or anything that looks like one, should be condemned.
Very much this. The fact that Elon Musk has not ever acknowledged or apologized for his gesture's resemblance to a Nazi salute tells me everything. If I made an awkward accidental action on stage that turned into a political outcry, you can BET I'd be apologizing over and over again for the rest of my life. He has failed to do so even once.
He made a post full of nazi related jokes afterward, rather than apologizing. You can put a video of his salute next to one of Hitlers and they are *identical*. He did it with his whole chest, and knew exactly what he was doing.
Nobody, least of all the richest person in the world, who grew up in apartheid South Africa, should make a gesture in front of a huge crowd that can be debated as a Nazi Sieg Heil or not. And after Charlottesville, Trump absolutely said there were fine people on both sides of the white supremacist protest and counter protest. On the white supremacist side, he was specifically referring to people who were angry about the removal of statues glorifying the people who fought to keep slavery in force. These people chose to march in a torchlight procession alongside avowed white supremacists who were chanting “Jews will not replace us!” or the Nazi favorite, “Blood and soil.” I do not consider people who were so adamant to keep Confederate monuments in place that they would participate in such foul actions, to be “fine” people at all. Beth has all the facts she needs.
Amy, it’s clear by your comments on many of Sharon’s posts that you whole heartedly support this administration and that there is no action that will change that support. However, is it at least possible for you to recognize bad actions from the administration without the need to try and defend them?
I never said I agreed with these actions or supported the steps taken. I also have been critical of things in this administration in many comments. I was calling out some missing facts in my comment above. I am unclear where you get this assumption.
It’s interesting to be in communities that lean left (like this one) and right leaning communities- because they are both saying the same thing. In right leaning communities- people were quoting George Orwell regarding COVID restrictions and the censorship.
Now (some) left leaning groups love to use this quote. I think it’s just proof that we are all more in the center than it can appear.
You’re probably right about that Amy, I’m sure there’s some common ground to be found.
My point though is that we all watched Elon give a nazi salute at the inauguration. Trump said “You also had some very fine people on both sides” (not about the KKK as you stated but about neo-nazis and white supremacists which isn’t exactly better?). To me, excusing any of this behavior just opens the door to allow even worse things to be said and done because we’ve moved the needle on what is acceptable.
He did though say there was “very fine people…” and he did try to denounce white supremacists, the problem being that one group was literally all white supremacists. That’s all Unite the Right is. We all heard him say it, he just wants us to act like we didn’t.
I find it hard to believe the Trump admin cares about anti semitism when Musk got up on stage and threw 2 Nazi salutes and essentially has unlimited power in the government now.
Additionally, Trump has always welcomed and encouraged neo nazis to support him and thinks they’re “good people.” Will his “no mask” comment apply to the modern day nazi/kkk rallys? They’re always wearing masks. Somehow I don’t think it will apply because Trump loves nazis and the kkk.
The issue is that this can go far beyond just this one student. What else will be deemed an “illegal protest” by the Trump admin? Will protesting against Trump and the current admin at some point be deemed “illegal.” Will schools expel students for holding anti Trump rallys? It’s a slippery slope and given the authoritarian desires of Trump, this sets the stage for the government cracking down on any sort of protest that isn’t in support of Trump and the maga party.
Conflating being anti genocide with pro Hamas is an easy way to persecute this student. There’s a difference between the two, but to Trump, any support of Palestinians at all automatically makes you a member of Hamas. So it’s easy to say he’s a terrorist.
I think another commenter pointed out, what’s to stop them by saying being anti Trump is anti American and makes you a terrorist? Again.. it’s a slippery slope when you paint supporters for a cause in broad strokes and ignore the nuances or the actual facts. Do we have any solid proof that he was handing out Hamas flyers? Or is a pro Palestine flyer automatically being labeled as a Hamas flyer.
This whole situation is so startling; I am fearful of what this will lead to for all of us. And it's really showcasing how this administration is only a defender of free speech if they agree with the speech.
Like many of us have pointed out, I would like to see what evidence they have to claim that Khalil has engaged in pro Hamas activities versus pro Palestine? Also, what was he saying in regards to Israel and was it taken to the extreme as to be anti-Semitic? One of the problems is that these nuances are hard to answer in regard to our First Amendment rights. For me, the main issue at this moment is that he was arrested without a charge of a crime and that they tried to remove him from the country already. Also, the idea that this administration gives a Damon about antisemitism is an absolute joke. People on the far right have openly supported Donald Trump, and he has never condemned them. Elon Musk threw a Nazi salute. Twice. He pardoned the January 6th rioters along with former crimes they had been committed of. Several of the instigators on January 6th were actively and openly white surpremacist. This is the administration testing the waters to see how far can they go when silencing dissenting voices. Did Khalil engage in proterrorest activities? Maybe, and yes that should be addressed, but the way it’s been done is alarming and we all should be afraid. I feel like he’s the sacrificial lamb on the alter of Trumps attempt at authoritarianism.
And an administration that has twice had leaders throw Nazi salutes thrown from stage is not one actually concerned with anti-Semitism.
Trump pardoned the guy who stormed the capital while wearing a Camp Auschwitz shirt with a Nazi death skull, along with many other avowed white supremacists. Trump could not care less about antisemitism. It’s about control and trying to chill further protests and demonstrations against the horrible actions he’s taken. He’s now calling protests against Tesla and Musk illegal and collusive (uh, duh, like every protest). Wave goodbye to freedom of speech as it recedes in the distance.
And supports the AfD
The administration has tipped their hand here in a number of ways.... first is that they seemed not to realize Khalil has a green card rather than a student visa, and have repeatedly claimed that his lawful permanent residence is "revoked" despite failing to go through proper procedure for that action. Second, they have ADMITTED that he broke no laws and is not currently being charged with criminal activity. If there is so much evidence of the danger he poses, where are the criminal charges?
The truth is that no matter how distasteful or upsetting one finds his behavior, it is ultimately just speech, protected by the First Amendment, and the burden of proof should be on the government to demonstrate otherwise. His arrest and detention are unconstitutional and rather than making Jewish Americans safer, this oppressive action puts ALL OF US at risk.
They’re making an example out of him. The “strategy” of this administration is shoot first, ask questions later. Even if a judge finds that the US government is wrong in the actions they’ve taken against him, this will have lasting effects on free speech. Not many folks want to try the limits of the DOJ- it’s extremely expensive and tedious and can easily ruin a person’s life, even if in the end, they are found innocent.
Remember Trump’s reaction to the tiki torch protest in Charlottesville? “Good people on both sides?” He didn’t seem concerned about anti-Semitic speech back then. He’s not concerned about anti-Semitic speech and signals by his own “First Buddy.” Why this and why now?
Exactly, I think the thing to understand here is that moves like this are intended to have a chilling effect on free speech AND IT'S WORKING. There are many protests happening, but they tend to be smaller than in 2017. Anecdotally, when asked why they do not attend, opponents of the administration are saying they fear state violence, that the police and military will be used against protesters. The threats of defunding, deportation, and stochastic terrorism (if you get put on blast by Trump and his allies) and causing people to censor themselves. It is unsettlingly similar to how the Nazis suppressed domestic opposition in the 1930s.
this is why the USA is the 17th freest country in the world
I have so many questions. Please excuse my ignorance and feel free to correct me if needed.
It seems like the administration may be purposely using inflammatory language, for example “Pro-Hamas” versus “Pro-Palestine”. Being Pro-Palestine doesn’t necessarily make someone Pro-Hamas or antisemitic, correct? We can care for Jewish and Palestinian people and their safety and well-being.
Are Jewish students being harmed, verbally or physically? Is there evidence to support that Khalil was dispersing pamphlets related to Hamas and Hezbollah, or that he has ties to Hamas? I feel like more facts are needed (not for this Preamble but for the case as a whole).
'Related to Hamas or Hezbollah' is so broad; I would also like to see more info. There is a big difference between a pamphlet that explains the historical issues behind the current situation and a pamphlet that calls for destruction of a group. If it was something like the former, does it matter who might have produced it if it is factual and has no inflammatory language? All of that context matters but instead we're supposed to assume the worst.
(And don't even get me started on that childish social media post. I would like those in governance to act like adults, thanks.)
By their logic, every American is Pro-MAGA because we are pro-America. But no, we do not necessarily support extremists just because the extremists found their way into power here in the United States.
“If you support terrorism, including the slaughtering of innocent men, women, and children, your presence is contrary to our national and foreign policy interests, and you are not welcome here.”
I believe that applies to both Netanyahu, and the presidents that supplied the bombs.
I had the same questions. I keep hearing the same comments but seeing nothing to substantiate them.
To me this is where due process should play out. It would allow us to see the evidence of whether the accusations against him or real or not. Is he not afforded that?
That’s.. exactly what I’m saying. Everyone is saying he’s guilty with no actual evidence. I’m asking where everyone’s concern for due process is and why people are so easily accepting that he did all these things based off what? Social media posts that no one validated and Trump’s unironic definitions of inciting violence and terrorism. There shouldn’t be people screaming that he should be deported over hearsay
Good answer! Sure, I can find videos of statements made during emotional protests, but where is the verification and study of them plus witnesses? It took the FBI months to follow up on the Jan 6 debacle and then make arrests. I am hoping everyone can learn from this.
Regardless of whether you agree with him or not, this should send a chill down your spine.
Honest question regarding the Columbia funding removal - what is the difference between anti-discrimination and DEI initiatives? The administration is threatening universities with removal of funding if they have DEI initiatives in place (correct?) - but they are also removing funding at Columbia for not having adequate anti-discrimination rules. I’m sure there is some difference that I don’t understand - what is it?
Ding ding ding!! Exactly: you nailed the contradiction here. There is not a difference, it’s just the millionth instance of the Trump administration not governing on any sort of principle. They laugh at any claims of discrimination existing, unless it has to do with Israel. They think parents should have absolute power over the government when it comes to their child even if that means infecting classrooms with measles, unless their child needs gender affirming care, then their state’s governor knows what is best for the child. All government programs are wasteful until proven otherwise, unless it’s a program that enriches the president and his friends. What’s a good name for people who always want their cake while eating it too? Cake boys maybe?
Hypocrites?
Classic, accurate, and simple. But maybe not dumb enough to penetrate rhetorically. I like Cake Boys because it uses some homophobia against em.
Sincere question. Aren't the speeches that Vance and Musk gave to Germany also striking hypocrisy in light of this arrest? If I understand it correctly, both of them were saying TO Germany that they were suppressing Free Speech by not allowing hate speech and anything far-right/Na-zi in any form. They were rude and almost hostile to an Allie that has worked hard to atone for the atrocities of their past. Doesn't this situation with Khalil fly in the face of those [phenomenally inappropriate] comments and speeches?
Karen, YUP! Good call, add it to the list. They're literally telling Germany they shouldn't restrict Nazi speech while simultaneously trying to deport someone for pro-Palestinian speech. It's the exact same playbook of selective "free speech" advocacy - freedom for views they like, punishment for views they don't.
This administration is out of control- their meanness is unjustifiable (see the Shalom post). I am anxious, worried, angry, and ashamed of so much of the behavior coming from the people who are the faces and words representing us as citizens.
I appreciate this article and I have an honest question. What should be done to protect the Jewish students on university campuses and defend their access to the education they are paying for? The dramatic rise in and defense of antisemitism in our country since October 7 is equally concerning
It’s an interesting question, and one worth diving into. I think I’d first ask whether you believe there’s a difference between being anti-Israel vs antisemitic? Much of the online commentary I’ve seen seems to conflate the two, and not allowing for a distinction gives free reign to a government to act how it wants under the protection of the Jewish faith and heritage.
Jewish students ought and should be protected, but we have a long history in our country of citizens feeling unsafe in order to have free speech. Women get catcalled. BIPOC people get jeered at. It’s an age-old question of where to draw the line between free speech and citizen protection.
Your second paragraph really resonated with me. I live in Columbus Ohio where we’ve had masked neo-nazis march through our streets with swastika flags yelling the n word and boogaloo boys gathered with their militia tactical and large guns. I felt very unsafe with both but they were allowed to exist. I do know universities have different laws applying on their campuses vs city streets. The university does have an obligation to its students. That said I felt safer at the OSU demonstration than either of the prior scenarios.
If this man had occupied university buildings and led the charge while wearing a white hood and harassing blacks, would we really be okay with people feeling unsafe, though? There seems to always be a double standard when it comes to the treatment of the Jewish community.
To be clear, I'm not "okay" with people feeling unsafe - but I do recognize that it may be a side effect to allowing free speech. White supremacist groups have protests all the time that make Black people unsafe. Ultimately, we have to define when harassment and hate speech cross the line into active violence or incitement of violence.
Can you give a more express example of where there is a "double standard" against Jewish people? And are you differentiating between Jewish people and the Israeli government - or conflating the two?
The congressional hearings to address antisemitism on college campuses comes to mind. Calling for the genocide of Jews is apparently only bullying or harassment in certain contexts. Can you imagine a reality in which presidents of elite institutions defend individuals calling for the extermination of blacks?
Yep. American history is steeped in elite institutions defending the extermination or subjugation of Black people. More currently, white supremacist groups frequently publish and post fliers calling for white dominance. But let's examine the question asked by Elise Stefanik: "Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard's rules on bullying and harassment?" Claudine Gay's response was that "it can be, depending on context." Then continued on to state that Harvard takes action when the speech "crosses into conduct that amounts to bullying, harassment, intimidation," and that Harvard embraces "a commitment to free expression even of views that are objectionable, offensive, hateful."
Honestly, that sounds incredibly reasonable to me. As always, we have to find the balance between free speech and safety.
If this kid did something illegal arrest him and charge him. Like the destruction of property. And there are laws against menacing and threatening people. But Trump & Crew are not making claims of any illegal activity. They removed him to make a point.
And that point is - anything Trump doesn't like is "illegal". Like not buying a Tesla because Elon Mush is a ding dong. Trump is screaming that is illegal because he doesn't like it. At some point someone needs to stand up to him or I know for sure my views will get me arrested.
Hmm. You’re comparing apples and oranges though. The KKK both threatened and enacted bodily harm to its targets. Unless I missed it (haven’t finished reading yet), I didn’t see the same from Khalil. Isn’t protesting government different from attacking individuals based on race? Personally I think Israel should have a right to a homeland and be treated sensitively due to the history. I’m just not sure these are comparable circumstances.
Sure, it's not a direct comparison, but if Hamas were anti-black in the same way they are anti-Jewish I don't think we'd be having a free speech debate.
I also am not suggesting this should be done for Jewish safety, but Khalil openly expressed support and distributed materials for a terrorist organization. Legally, I think he is deportable.
yes! agree. thank you!
BUT at the same time we cannot abandon due process.
This is a good point. I’m wondering will the same energy be applied to the scenario you speak of? If this is in the name of protecting the Jewish community, will there be IDing of those folks? Will some QAnon folks be investigated for blatantly spewing that Jewish people are part of a cabal? I don’t know enough about this situation, I haven’t seen enough evidence for either side to know if anything illegal was done by Mahmoud, but the lack of due process is a scary precedent.
I agree that this speech is protected under the first amendment. However, that doesn't mean that it has to be tolerated by universities. Universities absolutely have the right (and responsibility) to crack down on catcalling, racism, anti-Semitism, etc. But there is a very, very clear line between university-specific consequences (expulsion, suspension, etc) and arrest or deportation.
To be clear, I also think universities should distinguish between anti-Israeli-government speech and anti-Jewish speech. While I have mostly not seen explicitly anti-Jewish sentiments from my pro-Palestine friends, I have seen *some* (and here, I want to stress that this is coming from people I know, not online randos). I don't think the anti-Jewish speech is acceptable; I do think critiques of the Israeli government and calls for Palestinian freedom are acceptable (and I generally agree with them).
To me this seems like the ultimate tension how to protect Jewish students and how to protect free speech. Ultimately it seems like the universities could have done more to protect their students, quicker, and this is what led us here. I also wonder if there are examples of schools who found a way to do things better. And what we can learn from them.
Most of the universities that were actually having Jewish or Zionist students blocked did install task forces and really crack down on the intensity of the protests, but of course Trump and Friends don't want to acknowledge that sadly. Plus most of the schools losing the most federal money also have the biggest Jewish populations too, so again, it isn't about Trump being FOR the Jews while he lets Elon and Bannon wave Nazi salutes around.
This is an interesting moment for me. I think I actually agree with considering removing him (the Hamas allegations, if true, are really serious and if he dislikes the US so much, he had the choice to choose to immigrate somewhere else, like Canada) but in terms of what he represents (free speech), I ultimately believe that he should not be deported.
I’m a liberal through and through and I’m against what this precedent would mean but I ALSO have a Master’s degree in Middle Eastern studies. Since living in the Middle East, I have always been pro-Palestine and been critical of the government of Israel, but found what I saw in the pro-Palestine protests last year quite horrifying, and see very real anti-Jewish sentiment on both the right and the left, which makes me sad and worried for my Jewish friends at this moment.
What happened in Gaza is inexcusable but it does not justify targeting and harassing Jewish folks in general, and while I know that the majority of protestors drew that line, many did not, and there were serious agitators (like potentially this person) who stirred that up.
Thanks Ashley! I wonder though: does this removal help the cause of easing anti-Jewish sentiment? I think the opposite, at least in the way it’s being done. The Trump administration is making a flashy show of unconditional support for Israel that will only support the belief of anyone who thinks Israel has some sort of unexplainable power over the United States. Why is only antisemitism a problem, but *every* other form of discrimination (even outside of Jewish/Muslim conflict) is dismissed as nonexistent by the Trump admin? This could have been done with a condemnation of hatred in all forms, but the one-sided approach proves that isn’t their goal. It’s an intentional move to keep fanning the flames of hatred.
I didn’t suggest it would reduce anti-Jewish sentiment, nor did I suggest that anti-Jewish sentiment is the only discrimination that matters, nor did I defend the Trump administration’s policies on discrimination. I referenced the anti-Jewish sentiment to explain why I, a person who believes in free speech and democratic values, do not believe that the participants in pro-Palestine protests were as universally good as I feel like they are currently treated in discourse, which I also think is bad for fanning the flames of divisiveness - lots of Jewish folks, typically reliable Dem voters, voted for Trump (mistakenly, in my opinion) this year because of the rise of anti-Jewish sentiment on the left and Trump’s assurances he would support Israel. In as much as this move entrenches people in an anti-Israel stance, so too does allowing unchecked discourse against a historically marginalized group entrench them on the other side.
Why is it that it’s so easy for us to condemn discrimination against almost all groups, but when someone says “hey, they’re really saying some uncool stuff about Jewish people” it becomes a conversation about geopolitics?
Ashley, I think we had a bit of a misunderstanding, and I wanted to apologize. Re-reading my response, I can see how it came across as challenging your position when that wasn't my intention at all.
I completely agree with your nuanced take on the situation. I didn't mean to suggest you were advocating for his removal - I understood you were saying that while there might be legitimate concerns about his actions (if the allegations are true), you ultimately believe he shouldn't be deported because of free speech principles.
What I was trying to express was building on your point: that even if someone believes he should be removed (which you were considering), such a removal might actually make things worse for Jewish Americans by further entrenching divisiveness. I think we're actually in agreement that the administration's approach is fanning flames rather than addressing real concerns.
I appreciate your thoughtful perspective as someone with expertise in Middle Eastern studies who can hold multiple complex truths simultaneously - condemning antisemitism while also being critical of certain Israeli government policies, and recognizing the importance of free speech while also acknowledging when protests cross lines.
Sorry for the confusion. These are complicated issues with a lot of nuance, and sometimes text conversations don't capture the full intent behind our words.
Also, to your point about people who somehow found themselves voting for Trump because they are pro-Palestine (🫤) I think this is a huge turning point for them. I see some red hat wearing people too who brand themselves as first amendment crusaders who are really struggling to perform the usual gymnastics they do to justify their guys in power. They are freaking out.
Thank you so much for clarifying! I will admit to being a bit trigger happy these days as I’ve had a (scary) number of interactions over the last year where when raise that I am worried about anti-Jewishness in our society, I am accused of being pro-genocide. I appreciate this governerd community for not being like that!
I take your points and agree fully. This admin is absolutely using this as a flashpoint moment to further divide people and as a power grab.
I also agree that it’s bad for Jewish-Americans and likely also Arab-Americans, who will have “terrorist” stereotype dredged up. Like most things in this admin, it’s truly terrible for everyone.
I don’t think anyone is “making things worse for Jewish Americans” more than Netanyahu. Turning off the electricity to desalination plants?!?
Why would the actions of Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of the *sovereign nation* of *Israel,* be making things worse for Jewish *Americans*?
I agree with Ashley. Jewish Americans should not be judged for Isreal anymore than Arab Americans should be judged for the treatment of the women in Iran or Afghanistan. I feel this is part of the problem.
Ashley and Deanna, I agree! However, I went to an antisemitism symposium hosted by the Jewish community in the metro Kc area, and all I heard all weekend was: saying anything negative about isreal, Netanyahu, etc., endangered KC Jews. So, that was the real perception, along with a whole lot of other questionable things that I will spare you.
This. Such a single focus only on antisemitism but turning a blind eye to every other form of racism or systemic racism.
I think you’re right about a lot of this, and I don’t think you’d find anyone that would say an arrest for violent or hateful actions was wrong. But the crux of the concern is your indication of “potentially” this person. Why is he being arrested and moved several states away without a single verbalized charge? It’s a serious concern.
That’s why I ultimately don’t agree with this - this administration is clearly suspect and will obviously use winning this fight as a pretext to deploy it against tons of people this doesn’t apply to.
That said, in terms of this individual case, so far my sympathy is limited. Has he denied being the person in the first video Sharon shared, with the chants of “destroying Zionists”? I understand that Zionism is a political movement but “Zionist” is ALSO a longstanding slur against Jewish people and if I’m not going to accept that Elon was just “throwing his heart out,” I’m also not going to accept that using a longstanding, intentional slur is just “referencing a political movement objectively.”
This is an incidence, for me, where I support him on principle without necessarily supporting as a person.
Of course, if evidence comes to light that he was genuinely peacefully protesting without using hate speech, I’ll change my mind.
As a green card holder, there are things one can do to risk deportation. Since Hamas has been declared a terrorist organization, any person endorsing or espousing terrorist activity or encouraging others to do so is at risk of deportation. He is a leader of an organization that has celebrated the attacks of Oct 7 and has promoted Hamas and promotes the total elimination of western civilization. There is precedent by SCOTUS back in 1972, kleindienat vs mandel which gives the court broad authority to both Congress and the executive branch with regard to immigration law, non-citizens and ideology. We shall see what the courts ultimately decide…
I'm certainly extremely interested in what evidence will be brought against Khalil. I've seen a lot of people, including your comment here, state with certainty the evidence against him - and yet, the government itself has not revealed any evidence and I've struggled to come up with much of anything online. Due process certainly needs to play out (though the government whisking Khalil away to a more sympathetic court jurisdiction raises rather red flags to me...)
Ashley, you are correct. Due process will need to play out here. I was merely pointing out where it seems some of the confusion may lie in the matter. I think it will largely depend on his role in the organization he is purportedly affiliated with.
You are flinging around incendiary statements as if they are fact and they are not. Furthermore, the fact pattern in the Kleindienst case involved a Belgian journalist who wanted to visit the United States to talk about Communism, not somebody who, like Khalil, is a legal permanent resident. And since when does Congress and the Executive branch have broad authority over ideology? As far as I know, the USA has not yet become Russia or North Korea or China.
How does The Patriot Act come into play here? There have been many detained uncharged individuals held since that act was passed.
This is amazing insight. Thanks for sharing this!
I'm Jewish, and I'm a liberal. I have seen new instances of genuine anti-Semitism from friends and acquaintances on the left since October 7th (and by anti-Semitic, I mean explicitly anti-Jewish, not anti-Israel). And I have seen even more overt and frightening anti-Semitism from those on the right long before October 7th, and from people in power as well as laypeople.
The Trump administration does not care about anti-Semitism one bit (well, except those in the administration who are proponents of it). They care about punishing groups they don't like (universities, leftists, protestors, you name it). I struggle to see how this move helps me.
Truthfully, I have felt deep frustration with those on the left who depicted Harris and Trump as equal evils, in particular around the horrors in Palestine. I cannot imagine the Harris administration making a move like this. But people are allowed to frustrate me without being deported.
The lunacy of Donald* pretending to be bothered by alleged anti-semitism is wild, considering that the way he treated President Zelensky (who is Jewish) was straight out of the Nazi playbook.
*I have started referring to him as “Donald” because Mary Trump says he absolutely hates it.
Once again, I appreciate your perspective and voice! Grateful for The Preamble.
I learned a lot more about this case via the Preamble, so thank you. I wonder like another poster about the use of pro-Hamas language vs pro-Palestine. Is it justified based on the evidence or strategic to build a case? It makes me wonder have others had their rights stripped away under purported anti-terrorism efforts especially in the years that followed 9/11. My guess is yes they probably have, and that’s scary to me.
Elon using a Nazi salute, Trump saying KKK members are good people tell me that this administration doesn’t care about those that are Jewish . This administration is about control and scaring the American people into obedience and about keeping the borders closed.
I was in DC this past weekend . I was touring around when the removal of the BLM street was being removed AND on Saturday listening to a great presentation about Immigration probably while Khalil Moumand was being kidnapped.
I also watched a middle school student wearing a maga hat take a picture of a swaztika in the Holocaust museum.
Hi Beth. I think you may have valid points to make but wanted to call out that you may not have all the facts. Trump never said KKK members are good people and Elon’s gesture is debatable if it was a Nazi salute.
https://apnews.com/article/musk-gesture-salute-antisemitism-0070dae53c7a73397b104ae645877535
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-very-fine-people/
EM is not ignorant, and he has previously expressed heartfelt gratitude towards crowds with other hand gestures. He knew what he was doing that day, and he did twice, with emphasis. He knew it would spark debate, which is how the Overton window shifts. If it was truly ‘an awkward gesture’, he could have simply acknowledged that and apologized, but instead, he threw out a comment about Hitler accusations being ‘tired’. Wherever we sit on the political spectrum, a sieg heil, or anything that looks like one, should be condemned.
Very much this. The fact that Elon Musk has not ever acknowledged or apologized for his gesture's resemblance to a Nazi salute tells me everything. If I made an awkward accidental action on stage that turned into a political outcry, you can BET I'd be apologizing over and over again for the rest of my life. He has failed to do so even once.
He made a post full of nazi related jokes afterward, rather than apologizing. You can put a video of his salute next to one of Hitlers and they are *identical*. He did it with his whole chest, and knew exactly what he was doing.
Nobody, least of all the richest person in the world, who grew up in apartheid South Africa, should make a gesture in front of a huge crowd that can be debated as a Nazi Sieg Heil or not. And after Charlottesville, Trump absolutely said there were fine people on both sides of the white supremacist protest and counter protest. On the white supremacist side, he was specifically referring to people who were angry about the removal of statues glorifying the people who fought to keep slavery in force. These people chose to march in a torchlight procession alongside avowed white supremacists who were chanting “Jews will not replace us!” or the Nazi favorite, “Blood and soil.” I do not consider people who were so adamant to keep Confederate monuments in place that they would participate in such foul actions, to be “fine” people at all. Beth has all the facts she needs.
Amy, it’s clear by your comments on many of Sharon’s posts that you whole heartedly support this administration and that there is no action that will change that support. However, is it at least possible for you to recognize bad actions from the administration without the need to try and defend them?
I never said I agreed with these actions or supported the steps taken. I also have been critical of things in this administration in many comments. I was calling out some missing facts in my comment above. I am unclear where you get this assumption.
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” -George Orwell, 1984
It’s interesting to be in communities that lean left (like this one) and right leaning communities- because they are both saying the same thing. In right leaning communities- people were quoting George Orwell regarding COVID restrictions and the censorship.
Now (some) left leaning groups love to use this quote. I think it’s just proof that we are all more in the center than it can appear.
You’re probably right about that Amy, I’m sure there’s some common ground to be found.
My point though is that we all watched Elon give a nazi salute at the inauguration. Trump said “You also had some very fine people on both sides” (not about the KKK as you stated but about neo-nazis and white supremacists which isn’t exactly better?). To me, excusing any of this behavior just opens the door to allow even worse things to be said and done because we’ve moved the needle on what is acceptable.
I don’t excuse Musk or Trump’s behavior. But I am defending the truth.
As I posted above, it isn’t true that Trump said “there are very fine people..” in reference to neo- nazi’s or white supremacist.
That has been debunked many times.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-very-fine-people/
He did though say there was “very fine people…” and he did try to denounce white supremacists, the problem being that one group was literally all white supremacists. That’s all Unite the Right is. We all heard him say it, he just wants us to act like we didn’t.
I find it hard to believe the Trump admin cares about anti semitism when Musk got up on stage and threw 2 Nazi salutes and essentially has unlimited power in the government now.
Additionally, Trump has always welcomed and encouraged neo nazis to support him and thinks they’re “good people.” Will his “no mask” comment apply to the modern day nazi/kkk rallys? They’re always wearing masks. Somehow I don’t think it will apply because Trump loves nazis and the kkk.
The issue is that this can go far beyond just this one student. What else will be deemed an “illegal protest” by the Trump admin? Will protesting against Trump and the current admin at some point be deemed “illegal.” Will schools expel students for holding anti Trump rallys? It’s a slippery slope and given the authoritarian desires of Trump, this sets the stage for the government cracking down on any sort of protest that isn’t in support of Trump and the maga party.
Conflating being anti genocide with pro Hamas is an easy way to persecute this student. There’s a difference between the two, but to Trump, any support of Palestinians at all automatically makes you a member of Hamas. So it’s easy to say he’s a terrorist.
I think another commenter pointed out, what’s to stop them by saying being anti Trump is anti American and makes you a terrorist? Again.. it’s a slippery slope when you paint supporters for a cause in broad strokes and ignore the nuances or the actual facts. Do we have any solid proof that he was handing out Hamas flyers? Or is a pro Palestine flyer automatically being labeled as a Hamas flyer.
This whole situation is so startling; I am fearful of what this will lead to for all of us. And it's really showcasing how this administration is only a defender of free speech if they agree with the speech.
Like many of us have pointed out, I would like to see what evidence they have to claim that Khalil has engaged in pro Hamas activities versus pro Palestine? Also, what was he saying in regards to Israel and was it taken to the extreme as to be anti-Semitic? One of the problems is that these nuances are hard to answer in regard to our First Amendment rights. For me, the main issue at this moment is that he was arrested without a charge of a crime and that they tried to remove him from the country already. Also, the idea that this administration gives a Damon about antisemitism is an absolute joke. People on the far right have openly supported Donald Trump, and he has never condemned them. Elon Musk threw a Nazi salute. Twice. He pardoned the January 6th rioters along with former crimes they had been committed of. Several of the instigators on January 6th were actively and openly white surpremacist. This is the administration testing the waters to see how far can they go when silencing dissenting voices. Did Khalil engage in proterrorest activities? Maybe, and yes that should be addressed, but the way it’s been done is alarming and we all should be afraid. I feel like he’s the sacrificial lamb on the alter of Trumps attempt at authoritarianism.