Victory: Carnegie Mellon Drops Charges Against Majority of Students Punished for Painting Pro-Palestine Messages

September 2nd, 2026 —Carnegie Mellon University has dropped all charges against 8 of 9 students represented by Palestine Legal who painted pro-Palestine messages on a fence that has been a space for free expression on campus for 100+ years.

The university concluded that the 8 students’ advocacy for freedom for Palestinians and against Zionism did not constitute discriminatory harassment against Jews.

Despite being charged alongside the 8 students whose cases have been dismissed, one student, Rosalyn Tosh, remains under investigation, banned from campus, denied access to dining halls and housing, and at risk of expulsion for writing “Free Palestine by any means necessary” on the free speech fence.

As exonerated student Aster said, “Our free speech victory is important, but we still have work ahead of us. The university is still persecuting Rosalyn. And, ultimately, securing our right to speak out about Palestine is step zero to organize for divestment and other truly impactful ways of supporting Palestinian liberation.”

Your emails to the CMU administration in July led to the victory for the 8 exonerated students — and for the larger movement for Palestinian liberation on US university campuses.

Carnegie Mellon needs to hear from you once again! Email CMU admin to advocate for Rosalyn at bit.ly/stopCMUcensorship.