CAIR and CAIR-Chicago Designate NYU and Northwestern as ‘Institutions of Particular Concern’ for Mistreatment of Anti-Genocide Voices
- For Immediate Release and Distribution -
(CHICAGO, IL, 10/10/2024) –The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) , the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, designated New York University (NYU) and Northwestern University as “institutions of particular concern” due to their reported creation of a hostile campus environment for Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish and other students, staff, and faculty opposing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Both universities join a growing list of academic institutions that have used draconian measures to silence anti-genocide and pro-Palestinian voices. These include GWU, UCLA, Emory University, Columbia University, and UT Austin.
In a report released today, CAIR documented the different ways in which NYU campus leaders and Northwestern University administration have reportedly displayed apparent discrimination based on religion, race, and ethnicity by actively suppressing the free speech of Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, staff, and faculty who oppose occupation, apartheid, and ongoing genocide.
“As we officially pass one year of genocide, it is becoming more and more pressing that universities stop enabling attacks against and actually listen to students and faculty who are making a principled stance for peace and equality,” said CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell. “Until then, we will continue to see many more institutions designated as potentially dangerous to anyone who values academic freedom, open inquiry, and human rights for all.”
CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq. stated:
“NYU’s conduct epitomizes discriminatory repression of free speech against students, faculty, and employees who express solidarity with the Palestinian people suffering a genocide. Calling on police to arrest its own students and faculty members, threatening student achievement with unjust disciplinary hearings, and creating policies that conflate criticism of Zionism with antisemitism all serve to intimidate and silence their university community from speaking up against Israel’s human rights abuses, tragic massacres on civilians, and apartheid system. Community members who value democratic principles of free expression, academic rigor, and honest inclusion of diversity should be concerned about NYU’s conduct.”
CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab stated:
“As students on campus continue to advocate for ending the genocide in Gaza, it has become increasingly clear to us that Northwestern University is specifically intimidating anti-war protestors into silence. We strongly believe that Northwestern’s new protestor policy suppresses freedom of speech and discourages students from organizing around collective and shared values. For example, the explicit ban on flags, art installations, and tents appears to target pro-Palestinian protestors. This policy update makes it clear that Northwestern remains uncommitted to listening to anti-war students.”
Background:
NYU administration opted to deploy state force against students engaged in the American tradition of protest. On May 22, 2024, a Palestinian American Muslim nurse was terminated from NYU Langone Medical Center based on her acceptance speech at an awards ceremony in which she honored women who lost children in Palestine. NYU’s updated student code of conduct shrank its respect for individual values on campus by introducing new limitations on free speech.
At Northwestern University, administrators used state force against students and faculty who were peacefully engaged in the American tradition of civil disobedience. The university has reportedly implemented new policies to silence and sanction anti-genocide protesters. One faculty member’s fall classes were canceled. As Northwestern administrators have neglected to adequately address the safety concerns of students, the university faces a Department of Education investigation into reported discriminatory practices targeting Palestinians and their supporters.
Earlier this year, CAIR released ‘Hostile’: How Universities Target Anti-Genocide Protesters which detailed unprecedented efforts across the country to suppress students from advocating for Palestinians.
In August, CAIR launched its Unhostile Campus Campaign, a project aimed at fostering a campus environment where Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, faculty, and staff opposing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza enjoy free speech and academic freedom and are not subjected to state force or university discipline due to their viewpoints. Previously, CAIR designated five universities as “institutions of particular concern” due to their creation of “a thoroughly hostile and dangerous environment for anti-genocide students, faculty, and staff, especially Muslim and Palestinian community members.”
CAIR has filed lawsuits in Maryland and Texas, challenging extensive efforts to shut down anti-genocide protests and advocacy for Palestinian rights throughout the country.
SEE: Students sue Texas governor, universities over executive order on campus free speech
Earlier this month, the organization released a statement urging higher education administrators to protect anti-genocide protesters amid the start of National Bullying Prevention Month.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq., 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com