Civil Rights Orgs: Columbia's Pro-Palestinian Encampment was a Lawful Expression of Protest Against Israel’s Genocide

Civil Rights Orgs: Columbia's Pro-Palestinian Encampment was a Lawful Expression of Protest Against Israel’s Genocide

Civil rights groups Palestine Legal and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) today announced the filing of a "friend of the court" brief in the lawsuit against the Trump administration's abrupt cancellation of $400 million in critical federal research funding for Columbia University.

The civil rights groups' amicus brief argues that pro-Palestinian encampments and other speech activity critical of Israel's ongoing genocide is protected under the First Amendment and does not violate federal civil rights laws.

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Trump's Supercharged Attacks on Student Activism for Palestine Follows 50% Increase in Suppression Last Year

Trump's Supercharged Attacks on Student Activism for Palestine Follows 50% Increase in Suppression Last Year

Palestine Legal, a legal aid organization supporting the movement for Palestinian freedom in the U.S., received over 2,000 requests for legal support last year, a 55% increase from 2023, and a 600% increase from 2022. About two-thirds of reports of people targeted for their Palestine-related advocacy that Palestine Legal received in 2024 were campus-related, including over 100 reports at K-12 institutions.

The report comes as the Trump administration threatens and implements sweeping actions against Palestine protestors on college campuses, including deportations, federal investigations, and withholding hundreds of millions in funding from universities.

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Media Round-Up: Palestine Legal on Trump's attacks on the student movement and higher education since taking office

Media Round-Up: Palestine Legal on Trump's attacks on the student movement and higher education since taking office

With reports that the incoming Trump administration is plotting a crackdown on pro-Palestine protests, ranging from federal prosecution of campus demonstrators to deporting international student protesters, several media outlets have reached out to Palestine Legal for comment.

Here is a media roundup of the top 7 stories featuring Palestine Legal’s commentary about the Trump administration’s recent repression from outlets including The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Hill, Democracy Now!, and Columbia Spectator.

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Palestine Legal Condemns Unlawful DHS Detention of Columbia Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil, Demands Schools Refuse to Collaborate with ICE

Palestine Legal Condemns Unlawful DHS Detention of Columbia Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil, Demands Schools Refuse to Collaborate with ICE

"Abducting and detaining students over their political ideology represents a significant escalation in the McCarthyite attacks on the student movement for Palestinian liberation.”

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Palestine Legal: Trump's Executive Order Aims to Punish Protests of Israel's Genocide in Gaza, Promotes Anti-Palestinian Discrimination

Palestine Legal: Trump's Executive Order Aims to Punish Protests of Israel's Genocide in Gaza, Promotes Anti-Palestinian Discrimination

Yesterday, Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting university students who participate in protests or speech activity critical of Israel's genocide.

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As Trump Takes Office, Punishments for Pro-Palestine Protests Escalate

As Trump Takes Office, Punishments for Pro-Palestine Protests Escalate

With reports that the Trump administration is plotting a whole-of-government crackdown on pro-Palestine campus demonstrators and other orders that could devastate higher education, Palestine Legal has received a recent wave of reports from students across the country confronting a new level of repression for pro-Palestine protests.

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Media Round-Up: Palestine Legal on the incoming Trump admin's potential crackdown on Palestine activism

Media Round-Up: Palestine Legal on the incoming Trump admin's potential crackdown on Palestine activism

With reports that the incoming Trump administration is plotting a crackdown on pro-Palestine protests, ranging from federal prosecution of campus demonstrators to deporting international student protesters, several media outlets have reached out to Palestine Legal for comment.

Here is a media roundup of the top 8 stories about the potential Trump crackdown on the Palestine movement featuring Palestine Legal from outlets including The Guardian, AJ+, The Hill, Mother Jones, Jewish Currents, Drop Site News, and Middle East Eye.

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