Washington DC – A leading U.S. civil rights group has urged colleges and universities to respect free speech and resist calls to investigate or disband student organizations that mobilize for Palestinian rights.
In an open letter to colleges on Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) warned that politically motivated efforts to control campus speech could “destroy the foundations on which college communities are built.” “.
The letter comes amid heightened tensions in American academia as the war between Israel and Hamas enters its 26th day. Some campuses report pressure to suppress criticism of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, where an estimated 8,796 Palestinians have been killed.
“A college or university, whether public or private, cannot fulfill its mission as a forum for vigorous debate if its leaders launch baseless investigations into those who express unfavorable or even repugnant opinions,” we can read in the ACLU letter.
“Such inquiries chill speech, foster an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and betray the spirit of free inquiry, which rests on the power to persuade rather than the power to punish. »
Threats to university funding
Since the outbreak of war on October 7, debates about the conflict have intensified on college campuses.
Republican politicians have targeted universities that criticize Israel, going so far as to threaten to withhold federal funds if campus administrators do not contain activism for Palestinian rights.
Sen. Tim Scott, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate, introduced legislation to “rescind federal education funding for colleges and universities that peddle anti-Semitism,” citing a Palestinian literature festival at the University of Pennsylvania.
And the Florida State University System called on public institutions under its control to dismantle chapters of the advocacy group Students for Justice in Palestine (SPJ), citing alleged ties to “terrorist groups.”
The decision, according to the state university system, was made in consultation with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, another Republican presidential candidate.
The Anti-Defamation League and the Brandeis Center, two pro-Israel groups, also released a joint letter to universities this week, calling for investigations into Students for Justice in Palestine.
“We call on university leaders to immediately investigate SJP chapters on their campuses to determine whether they have improper funding sources, have violated the school code of conduct, violated state or federal laws, and/ or provide material support to Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization. ” the ADL letter states.
He also warned that if universities fail to “monitor the activities of their SJP chapters, they could violate the legal right of their Jewish students to be free from harassment and discrimination on campus.”
ACLU denounces call for investigations
On Wednesday, the ACLU specifically rejected the ADL’s call for “thorough investigations” into student organizations.
The group acknowledged that the war in Gaza has “rocked campuses across the country” and led to increased threats and concerns about personal safety.
Many Palestinian rights advocates have complained of intimidation tactics, public humiliation and doxxing, a practice in which their personal information is disseminated publicly, often online.
Some students also fear their career prospects will be threatened if they speak out. For example, a University of California, Berkeley law professor published an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal last month titled Don’t Hire My Anti-Semitic Law Students, referring to student activists who oppose to Zionism.
Jewish students have also reported anti-Semitic incidents, including violent online threats at Cornell University, a prestigious Ivy League school. On Wednesday, police arrested Patrick Dai, 21, a student at Cornell, for messages threatening to kill and rape Jews.
The ACLU said that while it does not take sides in conflicts abroad, it “strongly opposes efforts to stifle free speech, free association, and academic freedom here at home.”
“In the name of these principles, we urge you to reject calls to investigate, disband, or penalize student groups based on their exercise of the right to free expression,” the letter said.
The ACLU also denounced the University System of Florida’s decision to deactivate its SPJ chapters.
“Absent any indication that these student organizations have themselves engaged in illegal activities or violated existing university policies, the First Amendment and fundamental principles of academic freedom stand firmly against any attempt to punish them for their protected speech and associations. » said the ACLU.
“We urge you to stick to the best traditions of our country and reject baseless calls to investigate or punish student groups who exercise their right to free speech. »
