Today Palestine Legal announced the filing of a "friend of the court" brief on behalf of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) in Harvard University's lawsuit against the Trump Administration's revocation of over $3 billion in federal funding and research grants.
Read MoreIn a May 23, 2025, letter to DePaul University, attorneys representing student organizers warned the University that it is at risk of violating federal civil rights laws by enabling a hostile environment for Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and associated students. The letter calls on DePaul to cease all discriminatory investigations and sanctions of Palestine advocacy groups and take steps to address anti-Palestinian racism on campus. A legal hold notice was attached, indicating that the students are prepared to take their case to court if necessary.
Read MorePalestine Legal today announced the filing of a "friend of the court" brief in the lawsuit filed by detained Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and other Columbia students against the Committee on Education and Workforce and the Trump Administration. The brief argues that the Congressional request for thousands of pages of private student records is a clear attempt to suppress First Amendment-protected speech supporting Palestinian rights, which is neither their role nor within their power.
Read MoreCivil 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.
Read MorePalestine 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.
Read MorePalestine Legal has been receiving an unprecedented surge in requests for legal support as the Trump administration escalates its repression of the movement for justice in Palestine — with many of the same tools that it inherited from the Biden administration and its unwavering support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
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, these guides and contacts from Palestine Legal and partner organizations will help you assess risks, protect yourself and others, and reduce harm from repression.
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.
Read MoreWith 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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