CAIR-NY Condemns Barnard Expulsion of Third Student Participant in Anti-Genocide Encampment

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today strongly condemned what it called Barnard College’s “discriminatory” expulsion of a student for their participation in Columbia University’s anti-genocide encampment last Spring.  

SEE: Third student expelled from Columbia’s Barnard College for pro-Palestinian activism

SEE: Barnard student expelled for occupation of Hamilton Hall CUAD says

This student’s expulsion follows Columbia University’s continued efforts to quell pro-Palestinian speech and actions of solidarity after nearly 17 months of genocide.   

Afaf Nasher, Esq. Executive Director of CAIR-NY stated: 

“Barnard College’s expulsion of a student for protesting the genocide in Palestine is not just an attack on that student’s rights — it is part of a larger, systematic effort to silence and punish anyone who dares to speak out against Israeli apartheid and genocide. 

“This politically motivated crackdown reveals the deep hostility university administrators hold toward student voices calling for human rights and justice.” 

Over the last year, CAIR-NY has released statements and detailed reports in solidarity with student protesters as they continue to encounter university repression.   

SEE: ‘Hostile’: How Universities Target Anti-Genocide Protesters While Enabling Anti-Palestinian Racism and Islamophobia

 
SEE: CAIR-NY, CAIR Warn Columbia University of ‘Monumental Legal Exposure’ if it gives Congress Student Disciplinary Records

Last year, CAIR launched its Unhostile Campus Campaign, since then, CAIR has designated Columbia University along with many colleges and universities as hostile due to their creation of a thoroughly hostile and dangerous environment for anti-genocide students.

Students, staff, and faculty who wish for their university or college campus to be potentially designated as a hostile campus should complete the ‘Report a Hostile Campus’ form. This form is intended solely to inform CAIR’s ‘UnHostile Campus Campaign.’ Individuals seeking CAIR’s legal and advocacy services should contact their local office or chapter, or if there is no local chapter, file a formal report with CAIR’s National Civil Rights Department. 

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CONTACT:  

Afaf Nasher, Esq., Executive Director, anasher@cair.com, 917-669-4006;    

CAIR-NY Communications Team