Arizona State University (ASU) canceled a speech by Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) a day before she was to speak there on Friday. A spokesperson stated that the organizers had not complied with ASU’s policies for events. Tlaib’s speech was titled “Palestine is an American Issue.”
“Organizers of ASU events using facilities must be properly registered with ASU and must meet all university requirements for crowd management, parking, security, and insurance,” the spokesperson said. “In addition, the events must be produced in a way which minimizes disruption to academic and other activities on campus. The event featuring Congresswoman Tlaib was planned and produced by groups not affiliated with ASU and was organized outside of ASU policies and procedures. Accordingly, that event will not take place today on the ASU Tempe campus.”
According to a flyer advertising her speech, “Students for Justice in Palestine at ASU and other Phoenix area Organizations will be hosting ‘Squad’ member and Democratic Congresswoman from Detroit, MI, Rep. Rashida Talib. She is the ONLY Palestinian-American serving in the U.S. Congress.”
The sponsors included various Palestinian groups, the Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) of Arizona, and the Arizona Democratic Party.
Bipartisan Arizona legislators condemned Tlaib in a statement Thursday for her “extremist, antisemitic views” after a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest at ASU shut down a student government meeting and required police to escort Jewish students away from the building on Wednesday. SJP was one of the groups that brought Tlaib to speak on Friday.
State Representatives Michael Carbone (R-Buckeye), Alma Hernandez (D-Tucson), Alexander Kolodin (R-Scottsdale), and Consuelo Hernandez (D-Cochise) said Tlaib had “a history of espousing anti-Jewish sentiments that support the history of Israel” even before the October 7 attacks in Israel and said “such extremist, antisemitic views should be condemned, and they are not welcome in the state of Arizona.”
Abe Hamadeh, who is running for Congress and still challenging his election loss in the attorney general’s race, condemned the riot and Tlaib’s speech. The son of Syrian immigrants said, “Shameful. Those that espouse Hamas propaganda should find no comfort within our universities. It’s time we have a serious conversation about who is funding higher education.”
The U.S. House of Representatives censured Tlaib last week in a 234-188 vote, citing assaults on Jewish students on ASU’s campus. “[Tlaib] has a history of espousing such a view both before and following the deadly October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel that were perpetrated by the pro-Palestinian Hamas terrorist organization.”
In a video Tlaib shared on social media, she called for freedom “from the river to the sea,” which critics say is an expression known for meaning the abolition of Israel as a Jewish state.
Although the censure was primarily supported by Republicans, 70 Democrats signed a statement which said, “We reject the use of the phrase from the river to the Sea, a phrase used by many, including Hamas, as a rallying cry for the destruction of the state of Israel and genocide of the Jewish people.”
Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, a Muslim doctor who lives in Phoenix and speaks out against Islamic extremism, praised the cancellation on X. “Looks like @ASU @michaelcrow @SkySong_Scotts made the right decision. Better late than never. @NationalSJP @sjpasu @RashidaTlaib have moved back underground. Don’t let up!! Keep scouring the tunnels in the Valley and make sure Islamist terror sympathizers remain unwelcome in ANY venue. Now @asu decertify them!!”
Looks like @ASU @michaelcrow @SkySong_Scotts made the right decision. Better late than never. @NationalSJP @sjpasu @RashidaTlaib have moved back underground. Don’t let up!! Keep scouring the tunnels in the Valley and make sure Islamist terror sympathizers remain unwelcome in ANY… https://t.co/lCnIo8EL4T
— M. Zuhdi Jasser (@DrZuhdiJasser) November 17, 2023
Jasser’s last line referenced an effort to stop ASU from funding SJP. The Israel War Room posted on X, “Thank you ASU for making it clear that extremist, hateful, antisemitic views are not welcome on campus!”
The groups that organized her speech oppose Israel’s right to defend itself from the attack by Hamas that began on October 7. An estimated 1,200 Jews and others have been killed in the war.
Demonstrators marched in protest along University Drive after the cancellation was announced, and stood with signs outside ASU’s Fulton Hall. One was arrested. They tried unsuccessfully to get the school to reverse its decision.
The Arizona Palestine Network, one of the event’s sponsors, contributed over $100,000 to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs for her inaugural event.
A recent poll from the Arab World for Research and Development surveyed Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and found that 98.2 percent have a negative view of America. Additionally, 76 percent have a positive view of Hamas and 75 percent support the October 7 attack on Israel.
Tlaib will be speaking in Arizona elsewhere over the weekend. CAIR AZ said on X on Thursday that its banquet Saturday night featuring Tlaib was sold out. The event was initially scheduled to take place at Sheraton Hotel in Mesa, but after protests forced The Sheraton to cancel, it was moved to an undisclosed location.
– – –
Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter / X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Rashida Tlaib” by Rashida Tlaib. Background Photo “Arizona State University Campus” by davidpinter. CC BY 3.0.
