Legal Resources for Activists Advocating for Palestine Across the U.S.

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Legal Resources for Activists Advocating for Palestine Across the U.S.

Palestine Legal has been receiving an unprecedented surge in requests for legal support as the Trump administration escalates its repression of the movement for justice in Palestine — with many of the same tools that it inherited from the Biden administration and its unwavering support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Activists and community members have been doxxed, investigated, censored, questioned, fired, jailed, and even assaulted simply because of their views, while government officials appear to be mobilizing law enforcement resources against them for their speech activities.

While we work to respond to these requests, these guides and contacts from Palestine Legal and partner organizations will help you assess risks, protect yourself and others, and reduce harm from repression.

While we work to respond to these requests, here are resources to prepare for and resist backlash against your activism, including contact information for other organizations responding to this unprecedented backlash.

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Media Round-Up: Palestine Legal on Trump's attacks on the student movement and higher education since taking office

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Media Round-Up: Palestine Legal on Trump's attacks on the student movement and higher education since taking office

With reports that the incoming Trump administration is plotting a crackdown on pro-Palestine protests, ranging from federal prosecution of campus demonstrators to deporting international student protesters, several media outlets have reached out to Palestine Legal for comment.

Here is a media roundup of the top 7 stories featuring Palestine Legal’s commentary about the Trump administration’s recent repression from outlets including The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Hill, Democracy Now!, and Columbia Spectator.

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Dima Khalidi in The Nation: Mahmoud Khalil’s Abduction Is a Red Alert for Universities

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Dima Khalidi in The Nation: Mahmoud Khalil’s Abduction Is a Red Alert for Universities

Palestine Legal Director Dima Khalidi argues that universities’ complete surrender to Trump’s threats and ever-harsher crackdowns on the student movement “will not release them from the administration’s crosshairs. (Columbia has learned that lesson 400 million times over).” Schools across America have a choice: Defend their students against Trump or be complicit in his crimes.

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Palestine Legal Condemns Unlawful DHS Detention of Columbia Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil, Demands Schools Refuse to Collaborate with ICE

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Palestine Legal Condemns Unlawful DHS Detention of Columbia Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil, Demands Schools Refuse to Collaborate with ICE

"Abducting and detaining students over their political ideology represents a significant escalation in the McCarthyite attacks on the student movement for Palestinian liberation.”

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Palestine Legal: Trump's Executive Order Aims to Punish Protests of Israel's Genocide in Gaza, Promotes Anti-Palestinian Discrimination

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Palestine Legal: Trump's Executive Order Aims to Punish Protests of Israel's Genocide in Gaza, Promotes Anti-Palestinian Discrimination

Yesterday, Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting university students who participate in protests or speech activity critical of Israel's genocide.

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As Trump Takes Office, Punishments for Pro-Palestine Protests Escalate

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As Trump Takes Office, Punishments for Pro-Palestine Protests Escalate

With reports that the Trump administration is plotting a whole-of-government crackdown on pro-Palestine campus demonstrators and other orders that could devastate higher education, Palestine Legal has received a recent wave of reports from students across the country confronting a new level of repression for pro-Palestine protests.

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SUCCESS: Department of Education Office for Civil Rights States George Washington University May Have Discriminated Based on Palestinian National Origin

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SUCCESS: Department of Education Office for Civil Rights States George Washington University May Have Discriminated Based on Palestinian National Origin

On January 17th, the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights and George Washington University (GW) entered into a resolution agreement ending a years-long investigation into possible Title VI violations at the University.

The agreement, which resolved two Title VI complaints—one filed on behalf of Palestinian students by Palestine Legal alleging anti-Palestinian discrimination, and another filed by Israel advocacy group StandWithUs alleging antisemitism—states that GW “may have treated [a pro-Palestine student] differently on the basis of shared ancestry[.]”

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