Many scholars committed to Palestinian liberation can no longer do their jobs. That’s because many of the professors most supportive of Palestine don’t have jobs anymore.
This is nowhere truer than in the Gaza Strip — where all 12 universities have been reduced to rubble, and more than 90 professors have been reported killed during Israel’s assault on the territory. The gravity of what United Nations experts warn could amount to U.S.-backed “scholasticide” has no equivalent on American soil.
Yet Israel’s attempted eradication of intellectual life in Gaza echoes far beyond the territory, with U.S. universities ensuring that some professors vocal in their support of Palestine can no longer do their jobs either.
Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, academics in fields including politics, sociology, Japanese literature, public health, Latin American and Caribbean studies, Middle East and African studies, mathematics, education, and more have been fired, suspended, or removed from the classroom for pro-Palestine, anti-Israel speech.
These educators have little in common. They live in different cities and states and hail from different countries. Some have been teaching in their institutions for decades, some were newly hired. Some taught at private universities, others public. They have varying degrees of job security, from a tenured professor to the most precarious adjunct contracts. And they are racially, ethnically, religiously, age, and gender diverse.
Students and faculty advocating for Palestine are facing discriminatory censure and defamatory allegations, as administrators prioritize appeasing pro-Israel donors and conservative political interests.
Recently, there have been incidents where riot police were called to clear student encampments at various universities, leading to arrests and violence against students. The use of brutal state force against students in the name of “student safety” has been a cause for concern, as anti-Zionism is conflated with antisemitism.
While there have been instances of faculty solidarity, many professors have faced negative consequences for supporting Palestinian rights. Some, like Danny Shaw, have lost their jobs or faced threats to their livelihoods due to their advocacy. The dismissal of Shaw, following online harassment from right-wing groups, highlights the challenges faced by those who speak out for Palestine.
The targeting of faculty and students with pro-Palestine views by groups like Canary Mission and Antisemitism.org has created a chilling effect on campus activism. Universities are pressured to take action against those who support Palestinian freedom, leading to unfair treatment of academics who have long been involved in this work.
Despite facing termination or suspension, many academics remain committed to Palestinian solidarity, noting that their support for this cause has been ongoing for years. The political and donor pressures faced by universities in response to pro-Palestine activism have created a hostile environment for those advocating for justice in Palestine. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul initiated an independent investigation into antisemitism at CUNY in late October. At least one professor, Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda, was let go due to her pro-Palestine social media posts. Another case involved Jonathan Yudelman at Arizona State University, who was put on leave after a video of him verbally attacking a woman in a hijab went viral. The treatment of pro-Palestinian speech as a professional liability contrasts with the consequences for pro-Israel speech. This issue has been exacerbated in recent months, with critics calling it “the Palestine exception to free speech.”
The push to fire tenured professors has been seen in recent years, often under the guise of protecting Jewish students. Charges of making students feel unsafe allow universities to monitor professors’ actions both in and out of the classroom. Extramural speech, such as essays or social media posts, has resulted in disciplinary actions, including suspensions from teaching. The crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech has raised concerns about academic freedom and integrity within institutions. Scholars like Jodi Dean and Amin Husain have faced consequences for their extramural speech supporting Palestinian liberation.
Husain shared that he had never received any complaints during his seven or eight years of teaching. He mentioned that his suspension was not due to a student complaint but rather evidence obtained from external sources. Despite being technically suspended, Husain’s contract as an adjunct at NYU is coming to an end this month. He expressed his belief that he would not be rehired by NYU, stating that the university had tarnished his reputation without conducting proper investigations.
A letter signed by over 2,000 individuals in support of Husain highlighted the attacks on free speech and individuals speaking out for Palestine, drawing parallels to the destruction faced by Palestine itself.
Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
“Now Is the Time”
The issue of academic freedom in relation to Palestine is closely tied to the labor movements that have been shaking universities in recent years. Molly Ragan, a union organizer at UAW Local 7902 and a faculty member at Parsons School of Design, highlighted the interconnection between labor rights and the pro-Palestine movement, emphasizing the importance of collective action.
Ragan mentioned the student-led encampment organized by two UAW-affiliated student worker unions alongside the New School’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, which was recently disbanded in a police operation resulting in numerous arrests. The unions have taken legal action against the school for violating their rights to organized activities under the NLRA.
Supporting scholars advocating for Palestine is not just about upholding free speech and labor rights but also about addressing the ongoing oppression and violence in Palestine. Despite attempts to suppress voices speaking out for Palestine, protests demanding divestment from Israel and its allies have spread to around 200 campuses nationwide.
Noted scholar Salaita expressed that attempts to silence voices for Palestine have been ineffective, as the support and determination for the cause remain strong. Professor Clover echoed this sentiment, urging individuals to stand up for Palestine with seriousness and conviction.
Among those demonstrating unwavering dedication to the cause are Palestinian scholars like Ahmed Alhussaina, who, despite personal losses and hardships, continue to advocate for justice and peace in Palestine. Alhussaina highlighted the attempts to stifle Palestinian voices in American universities but emphasized the resilience and widespread support for Gaza and Palestine among university communities.
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