The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today designated Columbia University and the University of Texas–Austin as “institutions of particular concern” due to their hostile treatment of anti-genocide protesters.
Both universities join a growing list of academic institutions that have used draconian measures to silence anti-genocide and pro-Palestinian voices.
“These campuses have rejected the American traditions of respect for free speech, inclusion and peaceful civil disobedience by turning state force and disciplinary sanction against people who oppose genocide, apartheid, and military occupation,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. “We suggest students or faculty considering these institutions consider alternate universities that value free speech, academic freedom, and minority viewpoints.”
In a report released today, CAIR documented the different ways in which the culture at UT Austin reflects 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 and apartheid, making them feel marginalized.
In 2022, the university interfered in student democratic processes, declaring student support for Palestinian humanity a non-university issue despite the fact that President Hartzell issued a statement apparently supportive of Israel. University administration opted to deploy state force against students engaged in the American tradition of protest. A July report found the university violated its own institutional rules in its response to anti-genocide protesters.
At Columbia University, former president Shafik greenlit the use of state force against students and faculty who were peacefully engaged in the American tradition of civil disobedience. The university has reportedly repeatedly short cut its own policies and implemented new ones to sanction anti-genocide protesters. The university faces at least one lawsuit and a Department of Education investigation into reported discriminatory practices targeting Palestinians and their supporters.
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. As part of the campaign launch, CAIR designated three 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 Florida and Texas, challenging extensive efforts to shut down anti-genocide protests throughout the country.
SEE: USF Palestinian student group sues the state over free speech violations
SEE: Students sue Texas governor, universities over executive order on campus free speech
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.
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 Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com