USC professor critiques university's handling of free speech during pro-Palestine protests

“And the accusation that protesters are disruptive seems to misunderstand the point of protest. The leverage that students have in a world where they don't have much power is that they are able to disrupt.”
During an interview with CNN, Afua Hirsch, a journalism professor at the University of Southern California, voiced concerns over the handling of free speech on campus amidst student protests.
Hirsch highlighted the arrest of peaceful protesters and the broader suppression of free expression, stating, “The point of free speech is that people have the right to say things that you might find uncomfortable or inconvenient.”
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[@codingblues3181]

We recognize anti semitism, but criticism of Israel is not anti semitism and mixing the two is dangerous. This women is absolutely right on the money.

[@stephendenney7349]

You are right that criticism of Israel is not in itself anti semitism, however, calling for the eradication of Israel or the globalization of the Intifada might be fairly considered as antisemitism, at least in its implications. I have also seen Jewish students complain that they have been harassed for wearing outward signs of their faith or supporting Israel's right to exist.

[@codingblues3181]

​@@stephendenney7349 Zionists students are lying. This is not against Jewish student and many participant are Jewish.

[@awakencitizen]

Many thanks dear professor Afua Hirsch for standing for OPPRESSED people of Palestine and standing against the apartheid government of Israel

[@HamzaGrygori]

Wo-men are oppr-esssed in your home countr-y Ira-n. Why don't you stand up for the-m?

[@OnlineEnglish-wl5rp]

While any right thinking person would support the Palestinians, Afua Hirsch couldnt give a damn about them. She's just using their cause to spread her usual poisonous narratives

[@celiaflinn7737]

Everyone know there is no apartheid Gov in Israel.

[@HamzaGrygori]

@@celiaflinn7737 But there is A-partheid in Ga-za.

[@celiaflinn7737]

@@HamzaGrygori Israel is the only country in the region that has Christians, Muslims, Palestinians, Jews. There are no Jews in Gaza. So maybe you mean Hamas separate from Palestinians.

[@leafmountain183]

The guest was excellent. No real blowback from host because she knew her guest was spot on.

[@J3unG]

Today was good. On some days the Intel agency pushback is annoying.

[@zeeone4492]

The host is a terrible pro US regime propagandist

[@HamzaGrygori]

@@zeeone4492 Every-thing better than Ira-nian trolls who hay-te the West.

[@zeeone4492]

@@HamzaGrygori now that's real propaganda

[@juanvaladez5703]

Wow what an incredible advocate for the students.

[@undercoveragent9889]

Why did she mention Antisemitism? W4nker. She advocates for genocide when she opposes Antisemitism.

[@sholeha9003]

She is awesome and spot on. Many thanks to Professor Afua Hirsch for standing for the students and the opressed people of Palestine. ❤

[@HamzaGrygori]

She re-minds us of the Na; z i s.

[@kipwonder2233]

The guest is spot on. The administration's handling of the protest definitely evidenced a hierarchy of grievances. Meaning, who's grievance claims are valid??? Meaning, also, with respect to Palestinians directly...who is seen as worthy of our collective grief???

[@undercoveragent9889]

Why did she mention Antisemitism? W4nker. She advocates for genocide when she opposes Antisemitism.

[@malaakalabri978]

Always respected this woman - thank you Afua Hirsch 💐 Ahmed Al Khatib is clearly a collaborator - condemning student protests is literally the IDF's position.

[@ahmeda.3198]

Never heard of him before, but looked him up and saw some of his twitters. Wow, you are right. In one of these twitters he’s calling that squirrel guy a Nazi. I remember that squirrel from 2021 being pro BLM, antifacist, and pro Palestinian (when they were being beaten during Ramathan). That squirrel guy actually advocates for decent causes. That Al-Khatib guy has sold his souls.

[@samsung40_media87]

100%!! I don't know who he is but his statement just reeked of stupidity and collaboration

[@undercoveragent9889]

STFU! She is frightened to condemn Jews and therefore cannot condemn genocide. How do you condemn genocide without being Antisemitic? To a weak person, a slightly _less_ weak person appears strong. Afua is weak; you are weaker.

[@celiaflinn7737]

But condemning is correct if there is rioting, breaking things, fighting with the police, trespassing, and holding hostages and the condemnation should happen.

[@ahmeda.3198]

@@celiaflinn7737 Holding of hostages? Get real, these are kids camping out and marching. I bet any rioting and violence is happening from infiltrators and people seeking to discredit this movement.

[@realshehrkhan]

No one in the admin was willing to just talk with the students

[@moeha1527]

You have spoken very well for all. But our politics are blinded with dark money.

[@coleengoodell7523]

The parents of these students raised them to know the difference between right and wrong or good and evil. They need to be standing with their sons and daughters as they are reflecting the very values their parenting instilled in them. "Raise up a child in the way they should go for when they are older they shall not depart from it."

[@stephendenney7349]

The protesters are only a minority of the students at the universities.

[@notyourbus]

She is awesome and spot on!

[@undercoveragent9889]

Why did she mention Antisemitism? W4nker. She advocates for genocide when she opposes Antisemitism.

[@kfelb8676]

If police or army personnel in any country throughout the world are engaged in suppressing & oppressing civilians speaking out against injustices & violence, or are inflicting grave harm upon innocent civilians; how far do the foundations of democracy, human rights or laws have to be crossed, before the lines between hired heavies, thugs & mercenaries becomes so blurred the distinction ends up negligible?

[@user-cp7gh8zj6b]

They understand what is free speech. They just don't actually believe in it for anyone except themselves

[@OneSixSun]

💯💯💯

[@kr902]

Thank you Professor Afua Hirsch for stating some brilliant truths. We need to protect our peaceful protesting Students.

[@apollicino2824]

Divest, ceasefire, vote uncommitted.

[@m1a1-own4elnm]

❤

[@jayjackson9386]

Agree a hundred percent

[@HamzaGrygori]

Divest?

[@stephendenney7349]

If you think Trump would be no worse than Biden on all the issues he would address as president, then you can vote uncommitted and enjoy his presidency.

[@m1a1-own4elnm]

@@stephendenney7349 Not defending the scumbag trump, but as far as I'm concerned, right now even the devil himself won't be worse than genocide joe.

[@AF0408]

The loss of freedom happens like in a cooking pot, the temperature rises so slowly that many people don't notice it and only understand it when it's too late!

[@JklAsyujhg]

God bless her for telling the truth.

[@tymax6751]

The guest brings up very good points. 👍

[@idreessahadat3002]

Young lioness. Keep roaring.

[@rgzhaffie]

It's a bourgeois class dictatorship in the United States. So all of the bourgeoisie has "free speech". If you can buy a controlling stake in a multinational media corporation, then the government grants you "free speech". Otherwise, not so much.

[@RainmakeR7454]

RESPECT

[@daveming1]

Truth, brilliantly articulated. She is a humanist

[@user-je7et4ns3x]

Students, your predecessors had dismantled cruel South African Apartheid and Vietnam War.

[@user-vb3cp6wk8r]

The truth shall set you free well done PhD

[@CauseOfFreedom-mc7fx]

I’ve only seen her in Frankie Boyle shows before this and she is always consistent in her views in condemning hate and injustice. Glad she was given a chance to share her views here

[@wafaay7182]

What an amazing interview !

[@user-je7et4ns3x]

In 60s students change course of brutal vietnam war and the horrendous apartheid apartheid in South Africa.

[@albertmockel6245]

Once you accept boundaries to free speech, live with the idea that someone will set these boundaries for you.

[@vic7991]

Its crazy how they have to say shes Jewish for she won't be labeled as being antisemitic.

[@vickysharpe11]

Bravo Afua... Intelligently articulated, 👌💝💪

[@keklikt721]

Very big thanks professor, your words were consistent and stayed steady on your principals when you adressed the problem. I did bot find difficulty following your points at all. Free Palestine 🇵🇸❤️

[@scopes2228]

Excellent guest

[@valeriewedel2775]

❤ Brava!! We are fighting peacefully for change. Free Palestine, restorative justice, healing, peace for Palestinian people!

[@nollaig8353]

Free free the people of Pallistine and End appartite..End Genocide.

[@fozzymalik]

On point on all the points! Well said professor!

[@lulumozba]

I wonder what it says about the journalistic agenda when Khatib is the only quote provided.

[@MisterTea123]

Fantastic, Afua Hirsch is one of the best writers I have have come across - really recommend her book Brit(ish)

[@danielsshepherd228]

Well spoken. The hierarchy of racism is a real problem.

[@saliksayyar9793]

‘Progeny of Aman’ used an unknown someone’s comment who wants to paint students as irrational and maximalist. Not a single student leadership represented, though the professor was quite articulate and balanced

[@user-fv9kt2jn5e]

As she says "Right to disrupting must packaged into with free speach".

[@tymax6751]

Is this only shown on CNN International or is it censored in the US?

[@w3155ach]

Amazing Prof Hirsch ✊

[@Xantipa-hj9cu]

It's great that the students have support from the stuff like Prof. Afua Hirsch. It’s time for parents to support their brave children. By action. They are too confident. May be a lawsuit? Put some money together hire good lawyers and collectively sue the schools for anything you can find on them, and there’s plenty. What about for forcing your children to be vaccinated, knowingly ignoring all the scientific and academic requirements and responsibilities. It's a hot topic now, plenty of researchers and lawyers will be happy to help. This schools are obligated to teach and practice, and represent science on academic level based on empirical research. They swore to protect scholarship and sciences from abuse. But they didn’t, they ignored it and chose to lie for dubious politicians and corporations and investors. Making the vaccination mandatory, was callous, calculated criminal abuse of you children and academia. They knew what they were doing. They don’t have the privilege to play stupid. Unless you let them. And obviously they wouldn’t stop there. Actively help your children in their self less struggle and they will love you till the rest of your days. No politician or a priest can top that.

[@jeanjacquesdessalines1425]

Merci beaucoup

[@hakkah8564]

❤Afua Hirsch❤

[@bemindful6094]

Great professor!

[@user-tl9qh5dc3h]

as we were 90's kids and watched the matrix movie we thought that zion is the salvation for humanity but now we know zion is the matrix and only GAZA IS FREE ❤✅

[@komninosm]

A more clear comparison of Zoinists and USA and Palestine is to Dune, the Harkonnen, the Emperor, the Fremen... The Spacing Guild is the oil companies, CHOAM is the mega corporations like Amazon and others. The Landstraad is the UN, Ixians are Chinese, Richese is Japan. Tleilaxu is going to be the Arabs, but not yet. Bene Gesserit are the Jesuits, a morphing of the Church. We are still waiting for a country to be brave enough to become the Atreides. But it won't be the Greeks sadly, not any time soon...

[@user-fv9kt2jn5e]

She is right. University administration don't grant peace to protestors to break peace.

[@MinkytheMinkY]

Exactly.

[@RobertaSirgutz]

The British aren't big on civil disobedience and raised voices!

[@otarb1538]

May the voice of the people overcome 41P4C influence over US Government…These students are heroes!!!

[@bradforddavis6497]

Understand 'agitprop' or agitation propaganda and how it has been inserted here. And don't fall prey to it on the ground. Face the fire hoses in suits and ties. Sing songs. Be like MLK or lose.

[@mosfet987]

Mozlem? If you can say “listen” surely you can say “MUSlim” lol. So weird…

[@omarkazmi]

I thought the same. Being a well known expert on the region, I expected correct pronunciation from her.

[@Handepsilon]

Eh, that's negligible imo. It's no malicious intent and there are plenty more words than 'Muslim' that people speaks differently

[@g.w.hampton5525]

If a FOREIGN STUDENT is arrested even for what might seem a minor infraction it can have a significant impact on them remaining in the United States as a student, and could affect long-term eligibility for lawful immigration status.

[@abdulraja1151]

Truth and freedom should be easy to recognise. You teach free speech , her word that I read was not hate speech . More people read her speech than would have been present at her valedictorian speech .

[@Connectingdots100]

It is amazing how much US media and politicians ignore faculty who have spoken out with rationality about how students have a right to free speech, actually has reasonable demands, and how to reasonably manage the issue. It leads me to a conclusion that it is not about rationality but purposeful propaganda to cover their complicity to war crimes.

[@jimmycricket7385]

Bigotry directed at _any_ group is to be condemned. Whether they form a minority or not. Whenever people try to exceptionalize minorities they also lay a path to discriminate against the majority.

[@paulasmith754]

she is right

[@Gary-sx5ox]

In the Brad Pitt movie, World War Z, the tenth man theory was explained. It basically said that if everyone believes the same thing, it is the responsibility of the ‘tenth’ man to assume everything reported is false and a lie. My approach is that if a story gets the same coverage by social or corporate media then I have to assume that these stories are false. I approach everything on Social Media like a “tenth” man. Today, we have access to more information that at anytime in our lives. Being the tenth man takes a lot of work. However, it is nice to know I’m still in Real Reality vs Social Media Reality.

[@peterandjoycevanbreemen600]

❤

[@IC27185]

She doesn't even know who these students are. Whether they are even Palestinians!!

[@IdunilBandara-rj9uf]

Oh thank u for educating the ignorant

[@razvanoancea7673]

They don't care about anyone 😮😮

[@johnd.2778]

She is stunning

[@afrozuz]

😢

[@bazs2855]

Thank you professor for recognizing Islamophobia people these days seem to be ok with it. As if racism of any group is not the same. Racism of any kind is unacceptable. Criticizing a government or political party is our right.

[@IC27185]

Whose right? Identify yourself.

[@IC27185]

I don't give a damn about what you believe is your right. It is NOT going to Change how the US handles protesters, rioters, and a bunch of spoiled assholes camping out for weeks, while creating the biggest trash heap I've seen in a while and causing a health hazard for everyone in the city because they have rights!! They wouldn't be there if there weren't blocks and blocks of news cameras pointing at them!! Be real there are 0 Foreign Palestinian students at these protests!!

[@fallinfood9293]

respect and thanks for this professor and all other Jews who know israeli is using antisemitism as a victim card While aggressively committing every possible crime one can think of .

[@loo6837]

We are, in the west, overwhelmed by the biased media coverage (propaganda) of the situation in Gaza. We need serious arguments (not just emotional ones) to defend our support for Palestine. Thanks

[@adammitxhell2932]

Nice segment. Shame about the double letterbox format though...

[@johnsomebody1753]

Such an intelligent woman, saying valid stuff U N T I L L she proved that she doesn't know what Anarchy is. From the Greek, "An", meaning without, and, "Archos", meaning rulers or rulership. That D O E S N O T M E A N, being without rules, because not tolerating rulership, involves the rule, of not tolerating dominance or rulers, or rulership. That means abiding by respect, for self discipline, autonomy, and individuality.

[@IdunilBandara-rj9uf]

U r a greater professor. Thank u for showing us her ignorance

[@scottastell9415]

Great interview and subject matter. Next time maybe look at the sources of USA politicians campaign funds.

[@brucegemmell730]

Absolutely correct so let’s stop lying to ourselves the issue here is not about speech it’s about intent. We say things like peaceful protest again but what is our intent. We peacefully protesting for and freely speaking for what🤷🏻‍♂️ this is where the rhetoric exposes itself as gibberish………..insert anecdote here🤫🤭I can guarantee that as many as there are people there will be widely different answers to this question, and that is why this whole exercise is a fraud🥱😴

[@stephendenney7349]

She asks, what does a protest against Israel's war in Gaza that is not antisemitic look like. For starters, such a protest would not include calling for the eradication of Israel, hating all Israelis or anyone who supports Israel, praising the Intifada, or harassing Jewish students or Jewish people in general.

[@wyattearp4475]

God bless Israel.

[@CHIPIONES]

If criticism of Isra-hell is antisemitic than what it is real antisemitism? It is just against every intelligent thinking to say they criticizing Isra-hell is antisemitic.

[@user-je7et4ns3x]

Free Israeli hostages and 5 million Palestinian hostages brutally occupied for 75 years by Israeli colonial power.

[@IC27185]

And to the USC professor that is criticizing how the protesters were disbanded why not compare their treatment to protesters against their leadership or governments if it took place in the middle east, specifically Gaza or Iran?? What would happen to the students if they protested in those countries?

[@IdunilBandara-rj9uf]

Is she Jewish? That's why she is nor supporting you.

[@thesleepingpolicemen]

When are people going to realize and remember that semitic peoples also include Arabs and not just Jews. If someone is antisemitic, they are also anti-Arab. By that rational and historical precedent, technically, the genocide in Gaza is grossly antisemitic, especially in light of the fact that a majority of Palestinians are the direct descendants of ethnic Jews native to that area (European Jews who emigrated to Palestine, now Israel, have no ethnic ties to the land). Merriam Webster defines 'Semitic' as "of, relating to, or constituting a subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic language family that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Amharic." Furthermore, the word "Semitic" was coined by GERMAN ORIENTALIST August Ludwig von Schlözer in 1781 to designate said Semitic group of languages allegedly spoken by the descendants of Biblical figure Sem, son of Noah. The word 'semite' itself in its origin is a pseudoscientific word used by white European ruling classes and governments to further categorize races ('race' being a Western orientalist construct coined by French physician Francois Bernier in 1684), stoke communal violence against and between groups, and eventually subjugate them. "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes" ~Mark Twain

[@zeeone4492]

The host is a terrible pro US regime propagandist

[@derekspitz9225]

The current batch of student protesters are what Baudrillard would call a 'simulacra'. They are an imitation of what actual student protest and activism used to be. All I see in the current mob of students acting out is Islamist cosplay and nebulous virtue signalling. For example, the student protests over the Vietnam war were against concrete concerns, such as conscription and American proxy war foreign policy et al. They weren't 'standing with' the 'oppressed people' of North Vietnam. Today's brand of student protesters seems to me to be more about projecting their childishly binary, neo-Marxist ideology of 'goodie and baddies' onto a conflict that is seriously nuanced and complex, with the sole intention of creating content for their socials. Today's student protesters are ignorant, entitled narcissist and a total embarrassment. smh

[@Fatima-MuslimYemen-]

يااخوني ياملسمين هل باقي انسانيه وّالَلَه ماتكلمتَ الَا من جوّع وًّمَنَ ضَيَقَ الَحَالَ انَا وًّامَيَ وًّاخَوًّتَيَ تَشَرَدَنَا مَنَ بَيَوًّتَنَا بَسَبَبَ الَحَرَبَ نَحَنَ فَيَ حَالَهَ لَايَعَلَمَ بَهَا الَا الَلَهَ حَسَبَنَا الَلَهَ وًّنَعَمَ الَوكيَلَ فَيَ مَنَ اوًّصَلَنَا الَى هَاذا الَحَالَ 💔💔وًّالَلَهَ الَعَظَيَمَ مَا كتَبَتَ هَذا الَمَنَاشَدَهَ غَيَرَ مَنَ الَضَيَقَ وّالَفَقَر يَاعَالَمَ حَسَوّا فَيَنَا ارَجَوّكمَ وّالَلَهَ الَعَظَيَمَ رَبَ الَعَرَشَ الَعَظَيَمَ انَه الَاكلَ مَا فَيَ عَنَدَيَ بَالَبَيَتَ وًّالَلَهَ يَا اخَوّانَيَ انَهَ اخَوًّنَيَ بَقَعَدَوًّ بَالَيَوًّمَيَنَ مَافَى اكلَ وًّالَلَهَ وًّضَعَنَا كثَيَرَ صَعَبَ نَحَنَ 4 نَفَرَ دَاخَلَ الَبَيَتَ وًّابَيَ مَتَوًّفَيَ وًّلَا يَوًّجَدَ مَنَ يَعَوًّلَ عَلَيَنَا وًّسَاكنَيَنَ فَيَ بَيَتَ اجَارَ لَانَسَتَطَيَعَ دَفَعَ الَاجَارَ الَلَيَ بَاقَيَ عَلَيَنَا ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' اخي اول كلامي انا اقسم بالله على كتاب الله اني لااكذب عليك ولا انصب ولا احتال اني بنت يمنيه نازحين من الحرب انا واسرتي بيننا ایت الشهرب 14 الف يمني والان علينا 42 الف حق 3 شهور وصاحب البيت من الناس الي ماترحم والله يا اخي انه يجي كل يوم يبهدلنا ويتكلم علينا ويريد من البيت للشارع لانناماقدرنا ندفعله الأجار شافونا الجيران نبكي ورجعو تكلمو الجيران ومهلنالاخره الأسبوع معادفعنا له حلف يمين بالله هذا بيخرجنا إلى الشارع رحمه واحنا. بلادنا بسبب هذا الحرب ولانجد قوت يومنا وعايشين اناوامي واخوتي سفار والدنا متوفي الله يرحمه ومامعنا أحد في هذا الدنيا جاانبنا في هذه الظروف القاسيه اخوتي الصغار خرجو للشارع وشافو الجيران ياكلو واوقفو عند بابهم لجل يعطوهم ولو كسره خبز والله الذي له ملك السموات والارض انهم غلفو الباب وطردوهم ورجعو یبکو ایموتو من الجوع ما احد رحمهم وعطلة ردها لقمت عیش والان لوما احدنا ساعدنا في إيكيلو دقيق اقسم بالله انموت من الجوع فيا اخي انا دخيله على الله ثم عليك واريد منك المساعده لوجه الله انشدك بالله تحب الخير واتساعدني ولو ب 500 ريال يمني مع تراسلي واتساب على هذا الرقم 00967736246190وتطلب اسم بطاقتي وترسلي ولاتتاخر وايعوضك الله بكل خير اخواني سغار شوف كيف حالتهم وساعدنا وأنقذنا قبل أن يطردونا في الشارع تتبهدل أو نموت من الجوع وانا واسرتي نسالك بالله لولك مقدره على مساعد لاتتاخر علينا وجزاك الله خيراً!؛!؛؟؟؛:؛!؛:':؛!! ~«» ٪؛"+&

[@Wall2000x]

Women just can't shut up. They talk and talk.

[@annoyedaussie3942]

The 1st amendment does not apply on some elses private property. So i wish they would stop bringing it up when talking about universities. The question is an internal policy one for each individual university of what restrictions should in place. Nobody is literally arguing that free speech as accepted by the first amendment should accepted. Otherwise you could have clan rallies as an example or for that matter Zionist rallies calling for the expulsion of all Palestinians from the occupied territories.

[@Democratiser]

The response to her question, ‘what does a non-anti-Semitic protest look like?’ is obvious: Call for peace negotiations. There is also a logical reason why that is not the message: HAMAS’s Covenant PROHIBITS PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. The reason for this is it implies the continued existence of Israel whereas HAMAS’s primary goal is the eradication of Israel and Jews.

[@achmatcassiem6602]

Respect Prof Afua❤ Free Palestine ✊🏾 🇵🇸

[@michealophigoid6215]

It's crazy that she has to bring light to the obvious,we're really arguing against msn against the narrative every time

[@masterpassacademy]

[@sms7138]

Christian is left on weak pitch

[@Sammy-sj2wo]

Free Palestina 🇵🇸

[@IC27185]

I also keep seeing "free Palestinians" in not just these comments on this post but others as well and I've been meaning to ask anyone following and sees my question which is a Statement more than a question and it's that i thought Palestinians were a free people. Have I been wrong. Have they been slaves or belong to the Israelis?

[@vafnejad]

From the river to the sea Palestine will be free 🫶🏼🇵🇸🫶🏼🇵🇸🫶🏼🇵🇸🫶🏼🇵🇸🫶🏼