The Lies of Pro-Palestinian Activists Are Contemptible, But Denying Them Freedom of Speech Isn't the Answer

It was not bad enough that the terrorist organization Hamas carried out the worst single attack on Jews since the Holocaust last month. Over 1,200 Israeli civilians were murdered. Hamas also kidnapped, tortured, raped, and decapitated civilians. There was no shortage of carnage and mayhem from Hamas on October 7, 2023. What I also found to be jaw-dropping was how pro-Palestine activists and protestors reacted. They showed no indignation for what was clearly a violation of human rights. Quite the opposite!

At a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney, they were cheering "Fuck the Jews" and "Gas the Jews." In DC, they were screaming "Long live the intifada." In Arabic, intifada (انتفاضة) literally means "shaking off." In a political context, it refers to violent uprisings against Israelis that previously took place in the late 1980s and the early 2000s. There were those in New York cheering for what Hamas did. There is no shortage of "hate marches" in the western world in recent weeks.  

The pro-Palestinian hypocrisy is also stomach-churning. It is not only that they call Israel a genocidal state, even though it is not. They are cheering for Hamas, an anti-Semitic, homophobic terrorist organization that carried out a pogrom to incite a war with Israel and then has the gall to play victim. Hamas has made their genocidal intent clear since its founding in 1988. And the chant "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," what do you think it means? It calls for the erasure of the Jewish state, or in other words, ethnic cleansing. 

These activists demand empathy and decency, but are basically cheering to wipe out about half of the Jewish population. I know we just had the clocks turn back because Daylight Savings ended, but I didn't think we turned those clocks back to the 1930s when anti-Semitism was fashionable. Not only is it hateful, but the pro-Palestine side bases its arguments either on outright lies, half-truths, exaggerations, or events wholly taken out of context. They misuse such terms as occupation, colonizer, and apartheid to mask Jew-hatred. 

On a personal level, I despise this assault on truth and human decency. It is an affront to so much of what I value and stand for in life. I believe such vile has no place in civil society. Given the uptick in anti-Semitism that has manifested as a result, I honestly wish that pro-Palestinian activists would collectively shut their trap. As much as I cannot stand it, I believe in their right to freedom of speech under the First Amendment. Before continuing, I want to state that freedom of speech does not include violence, true threats, bona fide intimidation, incitement of violence, discriminatory harassment, or the heckler's veto. The aforementioned exceptions are not covered under the First Amendment. That being said, why am I standing on the side of preserving the freedom of speech of pro-Palestine protestors? 

1. Freedom of speech is indivisible. For free speech to be free, it does not only apply to those I agree with. Freedom of speech and freedom of conscience have to apply to those that I vehemently disagree with, as well. That extends to people having the right to hate Jews or cheering on a terrorist organization raping and murdering innocent civilians, as upsetting as it is. After all, hate speech is still a form of free speech. 
2. If that power to suppress freedom of speech could be used against anti-Semites , it could also be used against those who are in favor of Israel if anti-Israel politicians got into power. Giving government that sort of power would mean that no one's freedom of speech would be guaranteed. 
3. Allowing for their freedom of speech creates greater tolerance in society. Keep in mind that acceptance and tolerance are not the same thing. I do not accept the lies or hatred that are prevalent in the pro-Palestine movement. I don't have to agree with their viewpoints. Conversely, if we are to live in a pluralistic, democratic society, we have to have a threshold for opinions we disagree with, as well as a basic level of respect for those who we do not agree with. Tolerance is key for creating a more peaceful, cohesive society. 
4. I want to know who hates Jews so much that they end up being apologists for depraved mass murderers. Bring them out into the light and expose their hatred. At least I know where they stand. That is freedom of association. Plus, haven't there always been consequences in the professional world if you go as far as glorify terrorists? If someone celebrated 9/11 on September 12, 2001, what do you think would happen? They would most likely lose their job or not get a job offer. I believe in freedom of speech, but I also believe that freedom of association means disassociating from someone who has a view you find disagreeable or repugnant. 
5. A working paper from the Research Institute of Industrial Economics shows that increased freedom of expression helps ease social conflict (Bjørnskov and Mchangama, 2023). This paper's findings suggest that censorship would only increase tensions because it would limit legitimate avenues for discussion. 
6. Banning something is not the same thing as defeating or eliminating it. As we see with other bans, it most likely means making the problem worse. This is a war of worldviews and we need to use freedom of speech to fight against Islamist extremists and Jew-hatred. Let them come with their fallacious arguments. This is about preserving a marketplace of ideas. It is up to us to refute the lies and the hate. Now is the time to stand up not only for Jews or Israelis, but for human rights, democracy, civilization, and plain human decency.