The arrest of a pro-Palestinian Columbia University student has drawn comparisons to the McCarthy era, with experts calling it a targeted attack on free speech. In a recent CNN interview, Donna Lieberman of the New York Civil Liberties Union likened the situation to McCarthyism, referencing the 1950s Red Scare led by Sen. Joseph McCarthy. The Department of Homeland Security announced the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia graduate student, accusing him of leading activities aligned with Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization.
Khalil, a known Palestinian activist, had organized protests against Israel’s conflict with Hamas earlier this year at Columbia. President Trump previously labeled him a ‘Radical Foreign Pro-Hamas Student.’ During the CNN interview, Lieberman argued that Khalil’s opposition to Israeli actions toward Palestinians was being used as grounds for deportation, which she described as illegal and reminiscent of McCarthyism.
When asked if Khalil was a paid agitator for Hamas, Lieberman denied any such claims, emphasizing there was no evidence supporting these allegations. She stressed that the arrest was retaliatory, targeting Khalil’s opposition to Trump administration policies. Lieberman also mentioned legal efforts to secure his immediate release, stating the government lacked a valid legal basis to detain him.
The situation has sparked concerns about free speech and political persecution, with experts warning against modern-day McCarthyism. The case highlights tensions between activism and national security, drawing significant attention from civil liberties advocates and the media.