The First Tenured Professor to Be Fired for Pro-Palestine Speech

Maura Finkelstein, a tenured anthropology professor at Muhlenberg College, was dismissed for sharing a post on Instagram that criticized Zionism, making her the first tenured professor to be fired for pro-Palestine speech. Finkelstein, who had openly supported Palestinian liberation throughout her nine years at the college, was terminated after a campaign led by anonymous alumni pressured the administration. The college cited violations of its equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies as the reason for her dismissal. Finkelstein's Instagram post, which was a repost of Palestinian poet Remi Kanazi's call to "shun" Zionists, came amid heightened tensions following significant casualties in Gaza. Despite her tenure, which is meant to protect academic freedom, Finkelstein's case reflects a broader trend of repression against academics who criticize Israel. The backlash against her included thousands of emails demanding her removal and accusations of "Jew hatred." Finkelstein's previous communications, including her response to a campus fundraising campaign for the Israeli military, also drew scrutiny. The case has raised concerns among academic freedom advocates, who view her firing as a troubling precedent in the current climate of political pressure on universities.

- Maura Finkelstein is the first tenured professor fired for pro-Palestine speech.

- Her dismissal followed a campaign by alumni and was based on a social media post.

- The college cited violations of nondiscrimination policies as the reason for her termination.

- Finkelstein's case highlights growing repression against academics criticizing Israel.

- The incident has raised alarms about academic freedom and the influence of donor pressure.