Film Screening Explores Censorship and Campus Activism

The Rutgers Center for Security, Race, and Rights (CSRR) hosted a screening of "The Palestine Exception", followed by a conversation with the film's Co-Director Jennifer Ruth on February 24. The documentary brings together insights from scholars to explore the limitations placed on discussions about Palestine within academic institutions. The documentary delves into the broader climate of suppression, from congressional hearings on antisemitism to the backlash against campus activism. The film critically examines how anti-war, pro-Palestinian human rights rhetoric has been incorrectly labeled hate speech and how these narratives shape university policies and disciplinary actions against students.

Through interviews with both faculty and student organizers, "The Palestine Exception" situates the current struggle for Palestinian justice within a larger historical framework, drawing parallels to past moments of campus activism, including McCarthy-era blacklists and student movements of the 1970s. The documentary sheds light on the challenges of advocating for Palestinian rights in an academic setting, illustrating both the risks of repression and the continued advocacy for free intellectual discourse.

Following the screening, Professor Sahar Aziz, Director of CSRR, led a discussion with Ms. Ruth, delving into the broader implications of censorship and political assaults on higher education. Their conversation examined how bad-faith allegations of antisemitism are used to stifle free speech and silence criticism of Israeli policies. The documentary screening provided a space for analyzing the challenges faced by students and scholars who support Palestinian human rights and engage in anti-war protests in the United States.

Click here for a list of upcoming screenings