Artists and Cultural Workers Condemn the Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil
**Artists and Cultural Workers Rally Against the Arrest of Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil**
In a dramatic show of solidarity, thousands of artists, cultural workers, and historians have mobilized to protest the recent arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee and former student activist at Columbia University. Khalil was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 8, sparking widespread outrage and calls for his immediate release.
### **A Massive Protest in Manhattan**
On March 10, approximately 3,000 demonstrators gathered at Manhattan’s federal courthouse before marching to Union Square in a high-profile protest against what activists call a politically motivated arrest. The demonstration, organized in part by **Artists Against Apartheid (AAA)**, included artists, academics, and students chanting slogans and carrying posters advocating for Khalil’s release.
Longtime activist and Palestinian-American artist **Samia Halaby** joined dozens of other leading cultural figures in signing an **open letter** condemning the “targeting of immigrant students” and urging greater protections for free speech and student activists.
“The fight for freedom and dignity is universal,” said **Tahia Islam**, a visual artist and lead AAA organizer. “Artists have historically stood on the right side of history, and we refuse to be silenced for supporting Palestine.”
### **Who is Mahmoud Khalil?**
Mahmoud Khalil, who graduated from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in December 2024, is a **legal permanent resident** in the U.S. Originally a Palestinian refugee raised in Syria, Khalil became a prominent figure within Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), acting as a mediator between student protesters and the university administration.
Despite refraining from direct participation in recent campus protests—out of fear for his immigration status—Khalil was detained **without prior notice** while returning home from an Iftar dinner. Advocacy organizations, including the **New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)** and the **American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)**, have slammed the arrest as unlawful and politically motivated.
### **A Reaction from the Community**
Khalil’s detention has galvanized the artistic and academic communities, with cultural institutions voicing concern over the broader implications for student activists.
“I’m especially concerned that universities may think they can turn over a few students, whose political expression they find annoying, to the government in return for the restoration of federal funding,” said **Northwestern University Art History professor Rebecca Zorach**, one of the signatories of the open letter supporting Khalil.
At the protest, demonstrators carried **handmade poppy-shaped protest signs**, created by artists and activists at the **People’s Forum**, a Manhattan-based cultural and political space that has served as a hub for organizing pro-Palestinian activism.
### **Increased Law Enforcement Presence**
As protesters marched through Lower Manhattan, they were **shadowed by the NYPD**, which deployed hundreds of officers to the demonstration. Reports indicate that at least two protesters were arrested during the rally—one for allegedly obstructing governmental administration and another on undisclosed assault charges.
Civil liberties groups have warned that these arrests, along with Khalil’s detention, indicate an intensifying crackdown on political dissent, particularly among immigrants and people advocating for Palestinian rights in the U.S.
### **A Growing International Concern**
Khalil has since been transferred to **a detention center in Louisiana,** where he awaits further legal proceedings. Politicians, activists, and scholars from around the world have condemned the move, warning that it sets a **dangerous precedent** for free speech in American universities.
Former U.S. President **Donald Trump** publicly **celebrated** Khalil’s arrest, labeling him an “extremist” and vowing to deport more pro-Palestinian activists in the future. Meanwhile, leaked emails reveal that Khalil had repeatedly asked Columbia University’s administration for **protection from deportation threats**, but his requests were ignored.
### **What’s Next?**
The demonstration in support of Khalil is part of a broader movement pushing against **government overreach and institutional alignment with repressive tactics.** Organizers at the protest, including representatives from the **New Sanctuary Coalition** and **New York Immigration Coalition**, vowed to continue their fight for Khalil’s release and the protection of student activists across the country.
“Artists and cultural workers,” Zorach emphasized, “play an essential role in political movements. If we don’t stand together now, the repression will only continue to spread.”
Legal experts and advocates are currently working on **strategies to secure Khalil’s release.** Meanwhile, supporters urge the public to speak out against politically motivated arrests and to donate to Khalil’s legal fund, which is being managed by the humanitarian aid group **Resist ICE NYC**