Background of the Movement

In response to increasing government pressure that has drawn comparisons to historical McCarthyism, a collective of students, faculty, and staff across over 150 U.S. college campuses are preparing for a National Day of Action for Higher Education. Scheduled for Thursday, this event aims to safeguard democratic rights and uphold constitutional freedoms.

Blanca Missé, an associate professor at San Francisco State University, emphasized the significance of this movement, stating, “What is at stake is the defense of our fundamental democratic rights and constitutional freedoms.”

Organizers and Sponsoring Groups

The Day of Action is propelled by various groups, notably:

• Faculty for Justice in Palestine
• Jewish Voice for Peace
• Palestine Legal
• American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
• Higher Ed Labor United

Noteworthy events will be spearheaded by unions from institutions such as New York University and the City University of New York, with a significant gathering planned at Foley Square in Manhattan.

Context of Academic Freedom

The upcoming actions are marked by a backdrop of intensified attacks on academic freedom and a push for equitable governance in higher education. Recent incidents highlighted include the detention of pro-Palestinian advocates Mohsen Mahdawi and Mahmoud Khalil by immigration authorities, alongside threats from the Trump administration that could result in the loss of substantial funding for universities.

In a notable response to accusations of antisemitism, Harvard University has faced a funding freeze of over $2 billion from the White House after refusing to capitulate to the administration’s demands.

Campus Reactions and Solidarity

Columbia University has faced criticism for its collaboration with the Trump administration, reportedly providing student information to the government and failing to offer protection to international students. This has sparked protests and received condemnation from various academic departments.

Bill Mullen, affiliated with the Coalition for Action in Higher Education, articulated the collective goals of this movement, stating, “We are committed to beating back creeping fascism in higher ed, advancing worker control of campuses, and fighting for Palestinian liberation as part of the liberation of higher education.”

Day of Action Activities

The National Day of Action will feature a series of activities including:

• Rallies
• Informational discussions
• Teach-ins
• Marches, including a march at American University to deliver a list of demands to the university president’s residence

Organizers aim to advocate for protections for vulnerable communities, uphold academic freedom, and reaffirm the essential mission of educational institutions in teaching and scholarship.

Support from the Academic Community

In light of these challenges, several universities, including Harvard, are taking initiatives to confront threats to First Amendment rights and support academic integrity. Institutions such as Yale and Stanford have publicly shown backing for efforts to counteract the administration’s actions, resulting in a growing number of resolutions among the Big Ten Academic Alliance schools aimed at defending academic communities.

As expressed by organizers, “As campus workers and citizens, educators and researchers, staff, students, and university community members, we exercise a powerful collective voice in advancing the democratic mission of our colleges and universities.”