We propose a roundtable conversation that will consider how the North American public and North American universities responded to the upsurge in Palestinian activism in the last academic year, while also considering the sources of that activism and the debates over its nature and its impact. The goal is to analyze the development and outcomes of the North American protests, including the multiple attacks on protestor’s speech—by university administrations, congress, and other policymakers.

Each roundtable participant will consider separate aspects of North American responses to Israel’s war in Gaza. Abusalim will explore the experiences of Palestinians from Gaza abroad, focusing particularly on how Gaza has been framed and discussed, and how the voices of Palestinians from Gaza have often been excluded and erased. Labelle will examine the Canadian case in the context of support for indigenous rights. Segal will analyze the role of the Democratic party and of liberal “blue” universities in general, while Shibusawa will unpack the case of Brown University, with particular attention to debates about allyship and solidarity across national and racial divides. Panelists will also discuss how the current moment compares to previous moments of activism on Palestine and other global issues. We will explore why and how speech on Palestine has been punished, and how the climate in North America is likely to change in 2025, while also discussing the ongoing realities on the ground in Gaza.