The Kidnapping And Illegal Detainment of Mahmoud Khalil Is A Clinic in Fascism, And Democrats Set The Stage
Trump's administration and ICE are putting in bold what Biden began: free speech is dead in the water when you challenge power.
With the grotesque kidnapping of the prominent Palestinian activist at Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil, just the other day, and his apparent transfer to Louisiana, his rights have been completely stripped despite being a permanent U.S. resident married to a citizen. This situation highlights the ongoing assault on civil liberties and the targeting of activists within the United States.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born Palestinian and lawful permanent resident of the United States, has been a prominent activist advocating for Palestinian rights at Columbia University. He played a significant role in organizing protests against Israel's actions in Gaza, particularly during the Gaza Solidarity Encampment in April 2024, where he served as a lead negotiator between student activists and university administration.
Trump’s response to this incident was nothing short of delusional, disgusting, and repulsive—though unsurprising.
However, it is essential for liberals and well-meaning progressives to recognize the broader context that allowed this to happen. The policy of disappearing campus activists did not originate with Trump; rather it builds upon precedents set during the previous administration.
During the Biden administration, arrests and suppression of speech both on campuses and within many other public spaces and work forces took hold. Between October 7, 2023, and June 28, 2024, over 3,500 individuals were arrested during pro-Gaza protests across 81 U.S. college and university campuses, according to data compiled by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) and analyzed by Stephen Semler for Forever Wars. Notably, more than 98% of these protests were peaceful.
Protesters' demands included urging the U.S. government to pressure Israel into accepting a ceasefire, halting U.S. military aid to Israel, and prompting universities to divest from companies associated with the Israeli military. While some institutions, such as Brown University and the University of California, Berkeley, engaged in negotiations leading to the peaceful conclusion of protests, others opted for police intervention.
A significant escalation occurred on April 18, 2024, when Columbia University President Minouche Shafik requested the New York Police Department (NYPD) to dismantle a campus encampment, resulting in the arrest of 108 protesters. This action set a precedent, leading to increased police interventions nationwide. Prior to April 18, there had been 249 campus protests with 15 police interventions and 205 arrests. Post-April 18, the numbers surged to 1,020 protests, 133 police interventions, and 3,347 arrests, indicating a significant escalation in enforcement actions. Despite these crackdowns, the strategy of mass arrests did not deter activists; in many cases, it galvanized further protests, including the re-establishment of dismantled encampments and further calls for divestment.
Progressives, pro-Palestinian activists, and those who advocate for human rights and international law have long warned against these policies. A recent poll by the Institute of Middle East Understanding (IMEU) and YouGov reveals that nearly 30% of 2020 Biden voters abstained from supporting Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election due to the administration's stance on Israel's actions in Gaza. This issue outweighed traditional voter concerns like the economy and healthcare.
Despite hopes for a policy shift, Harris maintained unwavering support for Israel, mirroring President Biden's position. This alignment led to significant protests at the Democratic National Convention, where calls for Palestinian representation were denied. They pleaded with the Biden administration to take a different approach—to uphold free speech rights and protect those engaging in peaceful protest, not just on campuses but across the nation and the world. Instead, the framework laid out by Biden-era legislation has now been weaponized further and put on steroids.
In November 2024 The US House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at increasing scrutiny on charities and pro-Palestine groups. The bill, titled the "Stop Support for Terrorists Act," requires the US Treasury to report on how non-profit organizations may be facilitating financial transactions with groups designated as terrorist organizations, such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Anyone with half a brain who hasn’t swallowed the American and Israeli propaganda hook, line, and sinker knew where this was headed. It was not to “keep America safe” or to hold any organization accountable for actual malfeasance, but yet another act of trying to silence, squelch, and intimidate any organization or individual who spoke out against Israel or for Palestinian liberation to any degree.
This legislation established the foundation for the current, unprecedented erosion of rights, as seen in Khalil’s case. His detention is just one example of what could become a broader crackdown on activism, signaling more cases like his in the near future.
The best time to fight back and organize within your community, work place, university, and beyond was yesterday. The next best day is today, and the best after that is tomorrow. We have seen from the past two years that Democrats and supposed liberals with public platforms and influence have failed the moment time and again. When it comes to fighting back against the system that will kidnap permanent residents of the United States because they refuse to be silent about the mass slaughter of tens and tens of thousands, the Democrats have fallen in line with the people that they labeled “Hitler” and “fascists” when it comes to stifling speech and grassroots movements, as only fourteen House Democrats signed the letter penned by activists for Khalil’s release.
That, I think, speaks for itself and speaks loudly. It is on us to make sure Khalil is given his freedom, and it is on us to continue to fight and organize for freedom of speech, freedom to protest, and a free Palestine.