Identity of Speakers
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Ramzi Kassem
Faculty/Staff
OtherProfessor of law at the City University of New York,
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
Title IX or other federal statute
Other
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
Ramzi Kassem, a law professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law and director of the Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility (CLEAR) clinic, became a central figure in a heated national debate over antisemitism, academic freedom, and political pressure on universities in mid-2025.
Representative Elise Stefanik sharply criticized CUNY leadership and faculty, including Kassem, for their perceived inadequate responses to antisemitism on campus and for Kassem’s legal representation of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student and vocal pro-Palestinian activist, who was accused by some of engaging in antisemitic behavior during campus protests and events, particularly amid heightened tensions related to Israel-Palestine conflicts. His actions sparked public and political backlash, with critics arguing that his rhetoric and activities created a hostile environment for Jewish students. Stefanik called for disciplinary action against Kassem, accusing him of enabling antisemitic behavior through his advocacy work, sparking widespread controversy and concern over political interference in academic affairs.
The dispute escalated to congressional hearings on antisemitism at several universities, including CUNY, Georgetown, and UC Berkeley, highlighting tensions between lawmakers and academic institutions over how to address hate speech and discrimination. House Republicans framed these hearings as necessary to confront repression of Jewish students, while critics viewed them as politically motivated attacks on academic freedom and free speech.
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) issued a strong defense of Kassem, affirming that his legal representation through the CLEAR clinic is protected under the First Amendment and principles of academic freedom and tenure. The AAUP warned that calls for disciplinary action against Kassem threaten the fundamental rights of faculty to engage in legal advocacy and teaching without fear of retaliation.
