The Take Inside Project Esther’s plan to silence pro-Palestinian activism
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May 26, 2025 Tariq Kenney-Shawa, an AJ+ producer and US policy fellow at Al-Shabaka, dives into the controversial Project Esther, a conservative initiative aimed at stifling pro-Palestinian activism in the U.S. He discusses the alarming legal strategies that link this activism to organized crime, highlighting the chilling effects on free speech, especially on college campuses. Tariq also unpacks the alliances behind Project Esther and its broader implications on U.S. policy, emphasizing the need for intersectionality in social justice to combat these trends.
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Project Esther's True Aim
- Project Esther uses anti-Semitism as a pretext to dismantle the pro-Palestine movement in the U.S.
- It equates Palestinian advocacy groups with terrorism, labeling them as part of a fictitious Hamas Support Network.
Universities as Primary Battleground
- Most efforts focus on university campuses due to rising pro-Palestinian views among young Americans.
- Over 53% of Americans now hold unfavorable views of Israel, shifting historical narratives significantly.
Crackdown on International Students
- The Trump administration uses executive orders to revoke visas of foreign students who participate in pro-Palestinian protests.
- This marks a dramatic crackdown on international student activism supporting Palestine.