ADC: Victory for Dr. Lara Sheehi!

 Sent out by email in mid-afternoon February 13th:

The ADC welcomes the news that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has cleared our client, Dr. Lara Sheehi, of all specious and politically motivated claims lodged by pro-Israel activist organization StandWithUs (SWU) in their January 2023 Title VI complaint against George Washington University. This decision not only establishes a significant precedent in the fight against politically motivated McCarthyism, but also underscores the serious repercussions that arise from ideological exclusion.   In addition to recognizing that George Washington University may have engaged in anti-Palestinian racism, OCR’s resolution offers more details on the external investigation, which already exonerated Dr. Sheehi in March 2023. Both the OCR findings and the 2023 investigation concluded that no evidence indicated discrimination or retaliation against Jewish or Israeli students.    Although we are not surprised by this outcome— we welcome OCR’s confirmation of Dr. Sheehi’s integrity and ethics. Dr. Sheehi's veracity and her ethical stance was never questioned by the ADC. We celebrate this modicum of justice for Dr. Sheehi, yet remain troubled by how pro-Israel organizations utilize lawfare and Title VI complaints to pursue political goals. We also remain concerned about the tangible effects of such campaigns, particularly the high professional and personal costs inflicted on Dr. Sheehi and her family.   Dr. Sheehi’s case illustrates how dangerous and violent Zionist smear campaigns can be, as well as the importance of resisting the intimidation and harm they seek to impose. We ask our community and those in academic leadership to stay vigilant against these political tactics. We urge universities and other institutions to take proactive steps in rejecting the controversial and discriminatory IHRA definition of antisemitism and to commit themselves to protecting faculty, staff, and students from academic repression.   This victory sets a powerful precedent in defending academic freedom and free speech against politically motivated attacks. The ADC remains fully committed to fighting similar persecutions and to safeguarding the teaching of truth by our nation’s educators.

If you are an attorney who is interested in volunteering your time and providing legal support to students, please submit your information here.   The ADC Legal Department is available to provide private know your rights sessions, and consultations to student groups. If you are a student group interested in learning more, please send an email to legal[at adc org]

About ADC The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the U.S., founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk.  ADC’s mission is to defend and promote the human rights, civil rights, and liberties of at least 3.7 million Arab Americans residing in the United States. Through its work, ADC fights discrimination in the U.S., enhances public understanding of Arab history and culture, and partners with marginalized communities globally to advance social justice.   Our work is not possible without your support. Consider making a contribution to ADC today.