Key figure in pro-Palestinian campus protests arrested by Ice known for kindness and skill for de-escalationMahmoud Khalil, the recent Columbia University graduate who was detained by Ice on Saturday night, was linked by Donald Trump, without evidence, to “pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity”. But for those who know him, Khalil was a student, a steady negotiator and a leader whose activism placed him at the center of a national movement for Palestinian solidarity.Khalil, a Palestinian green card holder who is currently in immigration detention in Louisiana, was a lead negotiator for Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a role that thrust him into the spotlight during the pro-Palestinian encampment protests last spring – long before his high-profile arrest. He gained a reputation among fellow protesters as a principled and strategic organizer, earning praise for his ability to de-escalate tense situations. Continue reading...
Mahmoud Khalil, a detained Columbia University graduate and Palestinian green card holder, is described as a steady negotiator and kind individual who was a lead organizer for Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD). He was born in Syria to Palestinian parents, worked with Syrian refugees, and later interned with UNRWA. He became the lead negotiator for CUAD during pro-Palestinian encampment protests, advocating for divestment from Israel. He is married and his wife is pregnant. Donald Trump has linked him, without evidence, to "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity".
