Jewish Muhlenberg College professor fired over anti-zionist social media post, sparking academic freedom debate
Pennsylvania, US (Quds News Network)- In a move that has raised alarms about academic freedom and censorship, Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, recently fired tenured Jewish professor Maura Finkelstein over a social media post supporting Palestinian liberation. Finkelstein, a professor of anthropology, had been outspoken in her support for Palestinian rights during her nine years at the college, where more than 30% of the 2,200 students are Jewish, many of whom support Israel.
Finkelstein’s dismissal follows her reposting of an Instagram story in January 2024, which was written by Palestinian poet Remi Kanazi. Finkelstein’s repost, which called for shaming Zionists, was cited by the college as a “violation of its nondiscrimination policies”. Muhlenberg administrators stated that her actions had breached the school’s equal opportunity standards, leading to her termination in May.
Despite earning tenure in 2021—a status meant to ensure lifetime job security and robust protections of academic freedom—Finkelstein became the first tenured professor known to be fired for anti-Zionist opinion in the US since the early 2000s.
Finkelstein’s firing has drawn comparisons to previous cases where academic freedom has come under threat over criticism of Israel and zionism. In 2014, Palestinian-American scholar Steven Salaita was similarly dismissed from the University of Illinois for tweets critical of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. Although Salaita eventually settled with the university, Finkelstein’s case sets a troubling new precedent for tenured faculty expressing anti-Zionist views.
Anita Levy, senior program officer at the American Association of University Professors, said the case was particularly egregious due to its focus on extramural speech—statements made outside the classroom. “The apparent violations of her academic freedom are quite egregious,” Levy said, “We are taking this case seriously.”
Finkelstein’s firing did not occur in isolation. Her dismissal followed a concerted pressure campaign that included thousands of anonymous emails and a Change.org petition calling for her removal. The petition, which garnered over 8,000 signatures, accused her of “pro-Hamas rhetoric” and “Jew hatred” based on her outspoken views on Israel and Palestine. The petition also highlighted Finkelstein’s opposition to an on-campus fundraiser for the Israeli military, which was organized by the zionist student group Hillel in October 2023. Finkelstein had voiced strong objections to the fundraiser, questioning how Muhlenberg could allow such an event given Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
In response to these complaints, Finkelstein was regularly called into meetings with college administrators. Despite her repeated explanations that her criticisms of Zionism did not target Jewish students, but rather Israel’s policies, the college ultimately decided to terminate her.
Finkelstein’s case has underscored the growing repression of academic freedom in US colleges and universities, particularly when it comes to Palestine. In recent months, numerous professors and students have faced disciplinary actions for expressing solidarity with Palestinians or criticizing Israeli policies.
