(Watch on Instagram / BlueSky / Facebook)
Opposing the Trump regime’s rapidly encroaching authoritarianism over every aspect of our lives isn’t one fight. It’s many, big and small.
I wanted to let you know of a recent big one. A 2.2 billion dollar one.
In an effort to expand his power over all of our institutions, criminalize free speech, and even dictate who is admitted into our schools and what they're taught, Trump has been threatening universities to succumb to his control by withholding federal funding.
Funding like this is essential for researching cancer, food safety, viruses, the climate, and much more — research we count on to stay healthy, save the lives of our loved ones, and ensure our futures.
Harvard, home to so much of this research, said no, took the Trump regime to court, and WON!
In the ruling, Judge Allison D. Burroughs cited Trump’s use of smokescreen antisemitism:
“In fact, a review of the administrative record makes it difficult to conclude anything other than that Defendants used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country’s premier universities, and did so in a way that runs afoul of the APA, the First Amendment and Title VI,”
That’s big news for every American, but doubly big news for you and those who support our work here at Bend the Arc.
“Smokescreen antisemitism” is a term and concept authored by our long-time partner, Sharon Rose Goldtzvik, and with your support, Bend the Arc has been the foremost campaigner around this concept. For years, we’ve been training legislators, journalists, researchers, and decision-makers across the country about the dangers of smokescreen antisemitism and how to actually dismantle antisemitism.
Check out our new video about the Harvard victory and how Trump uses smokescreen antisemitism to promote his authoritarian agenda.
And if you’re excited about seeing our work make an impact, and helping win battles against authoritarianism, consider chipping in— because many fights that are big and small require support that is big and small.
Eli Williams-Szenes
Director of Advocacy and Political Affairs, Bend the Arc
