ICE Kidnaps Mahmoud Khalil

ICE Kidnaps Mahmoud Khalil

“This is not about Antisemitism. It is about Crushing Dissent.”¹

In 1948, Mahmoud Khalil’s family was forcibly removed from the Israeli city Tiberias in the ethnic cleansing known as “The Nakba”. On Saturday night, March 8, ICE agents forcibly removed Mahmoud Khalil from his home in New York City even though he has a green card and is a permanent US resident.^1,2

Why was Mahmoud targeted?

As a graduate student at Columbia University, Mahmoud played a key role in last year’s pro-Palestinian and anti-genocide demonstrations. His abduction is a clear warning that the US will try to crush dissent and that “liberal” institutions such a Columbia University will help in this effort. On March 10, Trump wrote,

“This is the first arrest of many to come.” We will find, apprehend, and deport these terrorist sympathizers from our country—never to return again.”²

What is going on?

Capitalism is dying and Trump’s been tasked with keeping it alive. Before 1970 capitalism was expanding and could afford unions and high wages. Now capitalism is contracting and trying to save itself by making war and bullying those who dissent. Trump is a performer hired by the ruling class to do a job. Part of the job is to transfer more money from working people to the rich. The other part is to defend the ruling class and its private property. As the American people fight back against rising poverty and the destruction of our country, Trump’s role is to impose a police state. He is doing this with the support of the Republican and Democratic parties.

Mahmoud’s Abduction

His Abduction is part of the fight for the hearts and minds of the American people. The fascists are weaponizing the politics of cruelty against the least powerful and most marginalized people in the country. This is fascist tactic # 1 – divert attention and attack people who are scapegoats, such a immigrants, pro-Palestinian students, Federal workers and LGBTQ+ people. The goal is to stir up fear and anger in order to keep us divided.

We need to fight to free Mahmoud

We can’t go back. While we may win some small battles, in the long run, lawsuits, conciliation, compromise or half-way measures are not going to work. Voting for the Democrats will not work, they are part of the problem. We cannot fight fascism from the middle. We have to recognize it for what it is – an extreme form of dying capitalism.

The ruling class is clear.

By putting private property, in the form of Musk, in charge of the government, the ruling class is saying that OUR property will take over and abolish YOUR property.

Our Response!

We the Public will take over YOUR property! Private property is not only the seed bed of fascism but of capitalism as well.

Abolishing the private ownership of the tools and technologies of humanity and Nature is the key step towards a truly cooperative society.

We can do this! We must do this!

“Our country and the world stand at a crossroads. Humanity has the potential for economic security and abundance. A community of the people, by the people, and for the people, where children can grow in peace, is possible as never before. Or–if we do nothing—we face increasingly unlivable conditions caused by private ownership of the wealth that human labor has created.”³