Victory: Students for Justice in Palestine Chapter at Adelphi Reinstated

After lengthy investigations, the Students for Justice in Palestine Chapter at Adelphi University in New York has been reinstated. Palestine Legal sent a letter to the school in December 2025, after SJP had undergone its third investigation within the span of a year.

On October 6, 2025, Adelphi SJP was interim suspended over racist anti-Palestinian allegations that their actions “contributed to a hostile environment for Adelphi’s Jewish and Israeli community”. The allegations cited a student group poster with photos that depicted students raising their index finger (the testament of faith in Islam) and referred to this as “a hand gesture used by terrorists”, a female Palestinian liberation figure, and a protest sign with the words “NO IOF ON CAMPUS”.

Our letter argued that Adelphi suspended SJP out of plain and simple anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia, both of which are prohibited under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and that the perception of Palestinian cultural symbols as inherently threatening or discriminatory is rooted in anti-Palestinian racist tropes and ideas.

“This is a big win for Adelphi SJP, after facing multiple attempts over the past year to silence and intimidate them from speaking out for Palestinian rights. The students have shown the Adelphi community that they are resilient and that they will not allow their support for Palestine to be smeared as antisemitic nor as support for terrorism,” said Sabiya Ahamed, Palestine Legal staff attorney.

Adelphi: take the utmost care to ensure you do not discriminate against your Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students and those who associate with them. We are watching!