Trump's antisemitism order draws concern for free speech, immigrants at some LI universities
Police warn students of their impending arrests during a pro-Palestinian protest at Stony Brook University in May 2024. Credit: Barry Sloan
A White House executive order that calls for a crackdown on antisemitism on college campuses — including by deporting foreign student protestors — has some students and staff at Long Island colleges worried it would target immigrants and stifle free speech.
“One result of this document is to put international students in our universities on notice that they need to stay away from protesting,” said Carolyn Eisenberg, a Hofstra University history professor who specializes in 20th-century U.S. history and foreign policy. More broadly, “It is an effort to prevent debate or protest about U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine.”
She called the order "the most serious effort to crush dissent on college campuses since the McCarthy era."
Nicholas Spangler is a general assignment reporter and has worked at Newsday since 2010.
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