University Activism, Academic Freedom, and the Question of Palestine

This roundtable explores the question of Palestine as paradigmatic for defending the principle of academic freedom now under attack nationwide. What historical lessons can inform this moment? Where do we go from here? Starting in early 2024, colleges and universities saw the establishment of encampments calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the disclosure of universities’ financial ties to U.S. and Israeli war technologies, and divestment from these companies. In response, university administrators from coast to coast enacted violent repression, arresting participants for criminal trespass and pursuing disciplinary actions against faculty, staff, and students. Crucially, in their attempts to delimit further protest and speech in support of Palestine, many university administrators restricted speech and activism generally protected on college campuses. Prominent university presidents–even those that colluded in the repression of encampments–were interrogated by Congressional committees and subsequently resigned. Following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025, a slew of proposals targeted free speech on college campuses, including policies that equate anti-semitism with criticism of the state of Israel. The Trump administration has warned that they will even deport international students and faculty who participated in the 2024 protests. The scholars in this panel will consider the various historical antecedents that inform this moment, from the national mass hysteria of the Red Scare, to the rise of global authoritarianism in the 1930s and the late 20th century neoliberalization of universities. Scholars will further share their experiences of campus activism in 2024 and the retaliation they faced for speaking on the issue of Palestine. Lastly, the panelists will consider the tools and organizations that can help us combat the challenges to academic freedom on campuses nationwide and, in particular, the “Palestine exception” to free speech. The roundtable will serve as an important forum for discussing a key professional concern that affects historians across diverse campuses.