The US is poised to use terror laws against students. This could be worse than McCarthyism

‘What most people might assume is first amendment-protected speech and advocacy can be misconstrued by the government as assistance or propaganda.’ Photograph: Dana Edwards/Reuters

On Monday, the Department of Justice announced the launch of “Joint Task Force October 7 (JTF 10-7)”. In an accompanying press release, the DoJ said it would bring to justice Hamas leaders who murdered and kidnapped innocent civilians in the deadly attack on Israel of 7 October 2023. Few would quarrel with this ambition. In the same breath, however, the press release claimed that the taskforce would also “investigate acts of terrorism and civil rights violations by individuals and entities providing support and financing to Hamas, related Iran proxies, and their affiliates, as well as acts of antisemitism by these groups”.

In plain English, this means the student protesters. It could also include universities and colleges that have entered the government’s crosshairs.