Free Speech on College Campuses
Universities have long been the seat of protest movements like those against the Vietnam War and South African apartheid. Today, students across the U.S. continue to exercise their constitutionally protected right to speak out on campus for causes they believe in, and to demand that schools uphold their professed mission and values.
The latest crackdown on campus protest has primarily been a response to students’ advocacy on behalf of Palestine. While the encampments that caught national attention happened before Trump’s return to office, his administration immediately escalated the ongoing campaign against free speech at universities. But the NYCLU and others are fighting back, both against Trump and against schools who capitulate to his illegal demands. Because if students can’t speak freely on their campuses, it isn’t only a problem for them. This attack on our nation’s civil rights and liberties poses a threat to all of us, for generations to come.
Below is a timeline of recent student protests in New York, and the events that followed.
Students for Justice in Palestine & Jewish Voice for Peace v. Columbia University
The NYCLU and Palestine Legal filed a lawsuit against Columbia University for the unlawful suspension of its chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) for engaging in peaceful protest.
Sarah Southey v. City University of New York
On behalf of CUNY Law Students for Justice in Palestine and CUNY for Palestine, the NYCLU filed a lawsuit against the City University of New York over the school’s refusal to release records regarding its investments with military defense companies like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrup Grumman.
Mahmoud Khalil v. Donald J. Trump
The NYCLU and ACLU join the Center for Constitutional Rights, CUNY Clear, Alina Das, and Amy Greer to challenge Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest by ICE solely in retaliation for his advocacy for Palestinian human rights.
Plainclothes agents arrest and detain Mahmoud Khalil
This video documents the moment when federal agents detained Mahmoud Khalil. His wife, Noor Abdalla, who was eight months pregnant at the time, recorded the video. Agents refused to show a warrant to his wife and hung up on the family’s attorney who was desperately seeking answers.
100 Days of Detention
From day 1, Mahmoud has been the target of political retribution for his pro-Palestine speech. He has not been accused of any crime. Even after 100 days, the Trump administration dragged its feet and made false claims to try to keep Mahmoud unjustly imprisoned. But there was zero legitimate reason for Mahmoud to still be detained.
Mahmoud Khalil's message to Columbia University as students return to school
As students came back to campus in September, Mahmoud Khalil shared a message with Columbia: It’s time to step up and protect your students.
In His Words
Mahmoud Khalil: What does my detention by ICE say about America? ⟶
Washington Post
To my newborn son: I am absent not out of apathy, but conviction ⟶
The Guardian
Commentary
Mahmoud Khalil’s Case is a Canary in a Coal Mine ⟶
Veronica Salama & Simon McCormack, NYCLU
Mahmoud Khalil is just the first victim of Trump’s unconstitutional crackdown ⟶
Donna Lieberman, NYCLU | MSNBC
Letters
Columbia Should Not Capitulate to Trump ⟶
In a letter to Columbia University President Claire Shipman, NYCLU Executive Counsel Arthur Eisenberg urged her to defend Columbia against the Trump administration’s assault on academic freedom.
Letter to CUNY Chancellor Rodriguez and Interim Dean Gomez-Velez⟶
The NYCLU and ACLU sent a letter to CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguez and Interim Dean Natalie Gomez-Velez expressing concerns over threats of government retaliation against Professor Ramzi Kassem, Professor of Law at CUNY Law School and Founder of the CLEAR project.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Students have always played a vital role in protest movements. As students continue to exercise their constitutionally protected right to speak out for causes they believe in, it's important to understand the rights and risks of protesting and speaking out while in school.
