Democracy Now! Audio Judith Butler on Gaza Genocide, the Right's Assault on Trans People, Campus Censorship & More
Sep 15, 2025
Judith Butler, a renowned philosopher and gender studies scholar, delves deep into pressing issues of our time. She discusses the ethical dilemmas of compliance within academia, especially concerning unjust laws. The conversation also highlights the struggle for free speech amidst governmental pressures at universities, particularly around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Butler connects the fight for trans rights to broader social justice movements, while addressing the dangerous narratives spread by extremist groups. A powerful exploration of activism and moral responsibility in today's landscape.
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University Shared Names Without Due Process
- Judith Butler recounts UC Berkeley giving names to the Department of Education and only Berkeley informing those whose names were shared.
- She notes the university did not disclose the allegations nor offer a chance to rebut them.
Title VI Protections Were Undermined
- Butler argues Title VI procedures were undermined because accused people were not told allegations or allowed to defend themselves.
- She warns the government's monitoring method destroys procedural protections Title VI was meant to guarantee.
Hannah Arendt Framed UC Legal Compliance
- Butler invokes Hannah Arendt and recounts asking UC legal counsel if they considered refusing to comply with the federal demand.
- She reports legal counsel answered they would not refuse and framed compliance as merely 'their job.'
