Contrary to the mass psychosis, there is no evidence Mahmoud Khalil had ANY leadership role in Columbia University Apartheid Divest. There is only evidence of three things:
1. He participated in PEACEFUL protests.
2. He spoke publicly about his experiences as a Palestinian at CUAD events.
3. He served as a MEDIATOR between CUAD and the university.
Khalil’s name appears to have been provided to the Trump administration by the Kahanist Zionist group @Betar_USA, a group that has threatened violence against pro-Palestinian protesters and vocally advocates for the ethnic cleansing of all Palestinians from Gaza. Betar has tweeted that “Our war is with Gaza, not Hamas. The people of Gaza.” They were able to identify Khalil precisely because he was NOT one of the masked agitators involved in riots.
Because Khalil was willing to show his face and served as mediator, targeting him and blaming him for everything any protestor has ever done is a tool that can be used to instill fear that will suppress pro-Palestine speech. This isn’t dissimilar to blaming someone who went to the peaceful January 6th rally on the National Mall that day for the most violent rioters at the Capitol.
The Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security said in an interview with NPR that they have NO evidence Khalil was involved in any way with any violence, nor even that he supports Hamas, but that he should be deported because he “put himself in the middle of… pro-Palestine activity.”
Merely having a favorable opinion of Hamas should not be (and legally is not) grounds for deportation any more than having a favorable opinion of Kahanism should be or is, but there’s not even any evidence at this time that Khalil does support Hamas. According to AP reporting, those who know Khalil deny he had any role in distributing the Hamas fliers that were found at CUAD events.
Khalil has also spoken out against antisemitism, saying, “There is, of course, no place for antisemitism” and “As a Palestinian student, I believe that the liberation of the Palestinian people and the Jewish people are intertwined and go hand-by-hand and you cannot achieve one without the other.”
If you have evidence that Khalil led or organized CUAD, has advocated violence, participated in violence, or has said anything antisemitic, I would like to see it. If you have merely heard that he’s done these things and never seen any evidence, then you should be aware that people are trying to manipulate you and turn your anger towards those who are brazenly lying to you.
Mike