Chicago Sun-Times: “Woman flooded with hateful messages after she expressed pro-Palestinian views, appeared in misleading video, suit claims”

Photo by CAIR-Chicago Communications Intern, Giulianna Larson

In January, the Sun-Times reported that several students and recent college graduates had been struggling to find work or lost job offers because of their pro-Palestinian activism, in addition to being posted on Canary Mission and other pages. A University of Chicago student faced threats after being posted on the site.

Canary Mission didn’t respond to requests for comment.

CAIR Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said his clients and everyone at the organization stood against “anti-semitism and all other forms of bigotry,” and that the accusations were diminishing those who had actually faced anti-semitism.

“This is a dangerous game that’s being played,” Rehab said. “The definition of anti-semitism is being stretched in all the worst ways. … Not only does it hurt good people, but it hurts actual victims of anti-semitism.”

CAIR Chicago’s legal director Phillip Robertson said the new Civil Liability for Doxing Act, which went into effect in January, allows cases of alleged doxing to be handled without the help of law enforcement.

“We don’t have to wait for law enforcement or any social media platform, our clients can take care of it themselves,” Robertson said.

Robertson said the case was one of the dozens they’ve received in recent months, and among thousands they’ve received over the years. Until the new law passed, though, they didn’t have the legal “tools” to pursue them, and are now pursuing two other similar cases.

“We have two individuals who are indicative of many, many more,” Robertson said. “Keep these lawsuits coming.”