We stand with all those across the country who are taking to the streets, writing letters, making phone calls and hosting gatherings to protest the kidnapping of Mahmoud Khalil. Mr. Khalil was abducted outside of his apartment at Columbia University by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Shackled and handcuffed, he was taken to a prison in Louisiana. He was not charged with a crime. He is a legal, permanent resident married to a U.S. Citizen. It required a court order to allow him the right to speak to his attorney.
We regard his arrest and detention as illegal. We see this as a direct assault on the fundamental right of free speech, essential in a democracy and as another example of the petty yet cruel actions of the Trump administration. We support the charges of his legal team who have said
“It’s been very clear from the beginning that the government’s strategy is to cut Khalil off not just from access to the court here in New York, not just from access to his legal team, but from access to his support base.”
The Trump administration is claiming that Mr. Khalil’s presence in the US could have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.” This is perverse and absurd.
Mr. Khalil is a Palestinian who has spoken for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people. He played a central role in the negotiations at Columbia University during the student encampment.
Criticism of the US government is the right of all people, wherever they are. This act of revenge and retribution by the Trump administration must be resisted at every possible level.
We urge you to act where you are, in every way that you can, to condemn the actions of this administration in arresting Mr. Khalil, to demand his immediate release, and to demand the administration apologize to Mr. Khalil, his family and friends for the stress their unlawful behavior has caused.
Collectively we must support the freedom to think, speak and act in accord with the dictates of our conscience.
Contact: info@kingandbreakingsilence.org