In a contentious battle over free speech on campus, Columbia University recently suspended its Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP) chapters, sparking concerns about the suppression of Palestine advocacy in the United States. This move is just the latest example of a growing trend that involves the involvement of outside groups, with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) taking a leading role in targeting SJP chapters nationwide.

The ADL, a mainstream civil rights organization, has faced criticism for its historical practice of surveilling and infiltrating social justice and human rights organizations, as well as its efforts to silence advocacy for Palestine and criticism of Israel. For over a decade, the ADL has focused its repression campaign on Students for Justice in Palestine. One of its key tactics has been to equate anti-Zionism and any form of criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. Such a tactic lays the groundwork for the ADL to make the claim that SJP and JVP are the "photo inverse of the extreme right" and even imply their involvement in the rise of anti-Semitic hate crimes.

These arguments have led to calls from the ADL for law enforcement to surveil, investigate, and potentially prosecute student activists. In a public letter released on October 25, the ADL and Brandeis urged university administrators to investigate and potentially criminalize Students for Justice in Palestine based on unsubstantiated allegations of "material support" for terrorism. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt further reiterated these claims on November 15, calling for the FBI and the IRS to scrutinize these student groups.

Furthermore, the ADL recently labeled Jewish Voice for Peace, a group focused on combating anti-Semitism, as a "hate group." This assertion came in response to the group's sit-in at Grand Central Station on October 27, where they called for a ceasefire in Gaza. By characterizing anti-Zionist groups as the "photo inverse of white supremacists," the ADL effectively stifles critics of Israel by weaponizing accusations of anti-Semitism.

The ADL has also sought to ban the use of words such as "apartheid" and "genocide" when referring to Israel's actions, despite the fact that leading human rights institutions and scholars have used these terms. Additionally, the ADL has taken legal action against a K-12 school, claiming that its ethnic studies curriculum is anti-Semitic for describing Israel as "settler colonialist."

Critics argue that the ADL's attempts to silence criticism of Israel and conflate it with hate speech and right-wing extremism serve multiple purposes. Firstly, it reinforces the conflation of Zionism and Judaism. Secondly, it distances the ADL from its own historical support for right-wing extremism. Lastly, it seeks to use the language of civil rights in order to uphold the status quo. By branding non-violent BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement as "hate speech," the ADL aims to demonize and censor those who advocate for Palestinian rights.

The ADL's intensified calls for investigations and repression of student groups signal a new level of fear and censorship reminiscent of the McCarthy era. Critics argue that these actions align with the ADL's efforts to institutionalize white supremacy. The ADL's utilization of the "material support for terrorism" clause, introduced in the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, has alarmed many due to its association with the rise of mass incarceration that disproportionately affects Black men.

Historically, legislation aimed at combating extremism has resulted in increased surveillance of Black and brown communities. Similar to the infamous period of McCarthyism, some critics argue that the ADL's surveillance practices should be dubbed "Hooverism," referring to its collaboration with the FBI to spy on civil rights movements and Arab and Muslim groups. The ADL continues to engage in surveillance through its affiliation with the Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC), which infiltrates and spies on organizations like SJP and JVP.

Critics argue that it is unconscionable for the ADL to accuse student groups of material support for terrorism, especially considering the massive amount of U.S. aid sent to support Israel's military campaign, which has led to thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza. The designation of pro-Palestinian advocates as "extremists" plays into the ADL's attempt to suppress speech and repress liberation movements under the guise of combating white supremacy. As the battle over free speech intensifies, critics call for a reevaluation of the ADL's role and actions in silencing Palestine advocacy.

At Mondoweiss, a publication committed to amplifying Palestinian voices, the significance of sharing their stories is deeply understood. For almost two decades, Mondoweiss has held the mainstream media accountable for publishing falsehoods and perpetuating hateful rhetoric. Now, more than ever, Palestinian voices need to be elevated in the face of ongoing challenges to free speech and advocacy.