George Mason University Suspends SJP Chapter After Raid Uncovers Weapons and Hate Speech

In a controversial move, George Mason University (GMU) has placed two members of its Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter on a four-year campus ban after a police raid on their residence uncovered weapons, magazines, and hate-filled messages. The incident has sparked widespread backlash and raised questions about the university's handling of the situation.

The Raid and Discovery of Hate Speech

On November 7, Virginia police raided the home of two Palestinian American students, Noor and Jena Chanaa, both active members of GMU’s SJP chapter. Police were investigating the students in connection with a potential hate crime. During the raid, officers found disturbing signs reading “Death to Jews” and “Death to America,” alongside guns, magazines, and antique firearms registered to their family members.

The Chanaa sisters, who hold leadership roles in SJP, were also suspected of involvement in a vandalism act at GMU in August. In this incident, the student center was defaced with spray-painted messages calling for a “student intifada.” The vandalism caused thousands of dollars in damage, and the Chanaa sisters are suspected of being behind the act.

In response to the police findings, GMU suspended the SJP chapter and imposed a four-year ban on the Chanaa sisters. This decision has sparked significant opposition from university faculty and students, with many questioning the fairness and due process of the actions taken against the students.

The Chanaa sisters' attorney, Abdel-Rahman Hamed, criticized the university's actions, labeling them "legally dubious" and accusing the institution of racial and religious profiling. He emphasized that this case is about protecting the right to free speech and activism.

However, in the months leading up to the raid, members of SJP, including the Chanaa sisters, were linked to pro-Hamas posts and were accused of making threats toward Jewish students, particularly after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel on October 7th, 2023.