The Palestine Exception to Free Speech: A Movement Under Attack in the US

From Citizens for Constitutional Rights Dear CCR Supporter, Today, CCR and Palestine Legal released a report, The Palestine Exception to Free Speech: A Movement Under Attack in the US, documenting for the first time the widespread and growing suppression of Palestinian human rights advocacy in the United States. As the US movement for Palestinian rights grows, Israel advocacy groups have intensified their efforts to stifle it. Palestine Legal responded to nearly 300 incidents of suppression between January 2014 and June 2015, each involving some form of constitutionally-protected activity. Eighty-five percent of the incidents including event cancellations, baseless legal complaints, administrative disciplinary actions, firings, and false accusations of terrorism and antisemitism targeted students and scholars on more than 65 campuses across the country. The report contains testimony from advocates who have been targeted for their speech and includes an appendix detailing more than fifty campus-related case studies. It calls on university administrators, federal and state lawmakers, and other government officials to safeguard First Amendment rights and defend academic freedom.  Read the report, watch videos featuring students and scholars discussing the backlash they have experienced, and find other advocacy materials at https://ccrjustice.org/the-palestine-exception.  Help us raise awareness about the suppression of Palestinian human rights advocacy by posting about the report on social media (using the hashtag #PalestineException).  Please also share the report and supporting materials with your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors.  For those in New York City, join us for CCR First Wednesday on October 7th where we will discuss the report and be joined by CCR client and friend Professor Steven Salaita! Learn more about CCR™s Palestinian solidarity work here and about CCR™s work fighting the criminalization of dissent here. As always, we thank you for your continued support.