Legal Resources for Activists Advocating for Palestine Across the U.S.

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While anti-Palestinian attacks continue, particularly against students and academics, we’ve got your back.

This post is an updated version of our October 13, 2023 post.

If you need legal support, please contact us through our webform.

Palestine Legal has received an unprecedented surge in requests for legal support over the past year and a half, with an additional surge in requests since the start of this year. Activists and community members have been doxxed, investigated, censored, questioned, fired, jailed, and even assaulted simply because of their views, while government officials appear to be mobilizing law enforcement resources against them for their speech activities.

While we work to respond to these requests, here are resources to prepare for and resist backlash against your activism, including contact information for other organizations responding to this unprecedented backlash.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS FOR STUDENTS

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM DOXING AND ONLINE SMEAR CAMPAIGNS

It is impossible to eliminate all risk of online harassment, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and mitigate harms.

Here is some guidance for the present moment from National Students for Justice in Palestine:

See more on instagram.

Guides on online privacy and digital hygiene to prevent doxxing:

If you have already been doxxed, check out Digital Defense Guide for the Doxxed for steps you can take to mitigate the harm.

Because of recent efforts to pressure employers to fire Palestinians and others who speak out in solidarity with Palestine, be especially mindful of sharing employer information on social media sites, including LinkedIn.

Social media sites and hosting providers often prohibit online harassment in their terms of use, so if you find yourself or another person targeted by one of these sites, be sure to report the violation and encourage others to do so. Also report online hate speech, incitement, smear campaigns and more to 7amleh here. Know the risks of sharing information via social media and learn more about the FBI and the Monitoring of Social Media Activity.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS FOR NON-CITIZENS

TRAVEL

For citizens and non-citizens alike, there are special considerations right now for travel, especially international travel. We have also heard from travelers who have be subjected to unnecessary and invasive questioning when entering the country after travel, especially to the Middle East. For anyone entering or re-entering the United States be sure that you understand how to protect your electronic devices, what questions you do and do not have to answer, and what you might expect if selected for secondary screening.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN DEALING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT

Activists across the country are reporting increased police presence at protests and on university campuses due to racist fearmongering by pro-Israel groups and government officials. Aggressive attacks by Zionists against Palestine solidarity protestors have in several instances resulted in Palestinians or their allies being arrested or questioned by law enforcement. We urge community members NOT to talk to law enforcement without a lawyer present.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK

PROTEST & ORGANIZE SAFELY

AVOIDING ISSUES WHEN DONATING MONEY

Material support for terrorism laws and Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) sanctions

These laws are used to isolate people and groups, but this resource from Palestine Legal, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and CLEAR sheds light on trends and risks for activists and organizations. You can learn more about how terrorism laws have used against the Palestine solidarity movement by reading our report: Anti-Palestinian at the Core.

REPORTING BACKLASH AND ADDITIONAL LEGAL SUPPORT

In addition to requesting legal support from Palestine Legal, you can also reach out to:

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Danya Zituni