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Emergency free speech rally near CA Capitol calls for release of Mahmoud Khalil [1]
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Date: 2025-03-15
Sacramento, CA – Community members, advocates, and organizations will gather today, Saturday, March 15th, at 12:00 PM outside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office in Sacramento to stand in solidarity with Mahmoud Khalil.
“Last Saturday, ICE/DHS agents illegally abducted Mahmoud Khalil – a recent Columbia University graduate, Palestinian rights activist, and permanent U.S. resident,” according to Kevin Martinez of PSL in a news advisory. “Mahmoud was taken from his home in New York City in front of his 8 month pregnant wife, who ICE agents also threatened with unlawful arrest. Reports reveal that ICE/DHS then transferred Mahmoud to an ICE Detention Center in Louisiana in the hopes of garnering an immediate sentence from the state’s judges. Mahmoud never broke the law, he didn’t commit any act of violence, and he never advocated violence.”
“Mahmoud has clearly been targeted for his political speech in support of Palestinian freedom, and his activism against Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The arrest of Mahmoud is a declaration of war by the Trump administration on one of our most fundamental rights: free speech,” Martinez added.
“We cannot allow this to become normal – we need to fight back until Mahmoud is freed. The people will not stand for this violation of our inalienable right,” he concluded.
In an action alert, the American Civil Liberties Union called the arrest of Khalis “an egregious, unprecedented, and illegal abuse of power.”
“The Trump administration illegally arrested and detained Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and recent graduate of Columbia University, in direct retaliation for his advocacy in support of Palestinian rights,” the ACLU said. “ICE then quickly moved him from New York to a detention facility in Louisiana without any notice to his pregnant wife or legal team. Since Mr. Khalil's arrest, the administration has affirmed its policy of revoking people's green cards and visas based on their political beliefs and advocacy.”
“To be clear: The First Amendment does not allow the government to retaliate against anyone for their speech. Ripping someone from their home, stripping them of their immigration status, and detaining them solely based on political viewpoint is a clear attempt by President Trump to silence dissent. And that's patently unconstitutional. Political speech – however controversial some may find it – may never be the basis for punishment, including deportation,” the ACLU stated.
Since this is still flu season and COVID rates are still high, attendees at today’s protest are highly encouraged to mask up.
Event Details:
What: Free Mahmoud NOW! : Emergency Rally for Free Speech and Solidarity for Mahmoud Khalil.
When: Today, Saturday, March 15th, 2024, at 12:00 PM
Where: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office, 650 Capitol Mall Sacramento, CA
Speakers Include:
● Palestine American League
● Students for Justice in Palestine
● Party for Socialism and Liberation
● Decarcerate Sacramento
Organization Endorsements
- NorCal Resist
- Healthcare Workers for Palestine
- Party for Socialism and Liberation
- Decarcerate Sacramento
- Sac Muslim
- Democratic Socialists of America, Sacramento Chapter
- Code Pink, Sacramento
- Trans & Queer Youth Collective
- Sac Peace Action
- WILPF
- Students for Justice in Palestine,
- Sacramento Filipinx LGTBQIA+
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