University Professor Sparks Controversy Ahead of DNC with Gaza Protest Tweet

In the days leading up to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Eman Abdelhadi, a sociology professor at the University of Chicago, ignited a significant backlash with a tweet expressing her enthusiasm for protests against the Gaza war. Her post drew immediate attention from supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris, who reported her to federal authorities, prompting Abdelhadi to reflect on the implications of her identity as a Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab in this context. Abdelhadi expressed her belief that the reaction she faced was not coincidental, stating, “I think it’s very clear that if I weren’t Muslim, if I weren’t Palestinian, if I weren’t Arab, that none of this would have happened.” She recounted her feelings of being triggered by the situation, recalling the historical presence of the FBI in her community and the pervasive sense of surveillance that has shaped her experiences. In response to the threats, Abdelhadi sought legal counsel and reached out to the FBI, which did not provide a comment to The Independent regarding the incident. She characterized her treatment by pro-Harris supporters as indicative of the broader challenges faced by Gaza protesters within the Democratic Party, particularly since the onset of the conflict last year. Abdelhadi’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the marginalization felt by many in her community, as she articulated a sense of disposability and disregard for her life and that of her community by a significant portion of the American populace.