61 Comments

It's started. They will round up all critics, regardless of legal niceties. Mr Kahlil is but the first. I fully expect all dissenting citizens to eventually be grabbed. We need to be screaming at the top of our lungs for Mr. Kahlil and his rights to due process. I worry that the Trump regime will exile him to GTMO. Thank you, Dean, for blowing BUGLES on this sh*t.

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I'm Jewish. Mr. Kahlil and those Columbia students who protest in support of Palestinians do not offend me, nor do I believe they are anti-Semitic.

The people who most strongly offend me and threaten the well-being of our Jewish friends and community are Nazi-saluting Musk, his racist buddy-in-chief, DJT, and their violent supporters.

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The same! I’m Jewish and have no problem with protests against the Netanyahu regime. I also know this has nothing to do with fighting antisemitism. This administration has supported numerous policies that are inherently antisemitic. This is about punishing and trying to control universities. As a Jew, THAT offends me. tRUMP, do not fucking try to convince me that this is about fighting antisemitism. You know, as well as I do, that that is bullshit! G-d help this young man and his family. And to Jews who “love” this: remember that THIS time we might not be the group they come after, FIRST, but we should place no trust in that. I’m devastated by this. It took me 3 hours to calm down enough to write this. I’m so angry, despairing, ashamed, and heartbroken. 💔💔💔💔

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If he's so worried about antisemitism he shouldn't be promoting Christian nationalism. What a hateful little man he is. (I'm Jewish too and do not support Netanyahu and his gang of thugs.)

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Me too! Hear, hear!!

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That is absolutely horrifying for Mr. Kahlil and his family. This needs to STOP!!!

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There is a hurricane of evil blowing out of this regime over the American people. I simply never imagined that an American president would de facto cancel First Amendment rights. We need to ramp up the protests to a point where everyone has a chance to get out to one. If we don’t, we’ll end up in an extermination camp.

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Oh my god. This is devastating news. I am writing this through tears. Thank you for bringing this to the forefront, Dean. I am a Canadian, but like so many other Canadians, I am watching what is happening in your country and it breaks my heart. As you know, Trump has been threatening to annex us, which I hope to god never happens. I am so sorry for this poor man and his family. I am also sorry for all the stress, anxiety, and pain our American friends are going through. I can't even imagine. As MLK said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

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Thanks Micki! Stay strong!

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You're welcome, Dean. You, too!! Keep writing!

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Hey Micki , you expressed it all - injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere - as Dean says, we have to stay strong everywhere democracy still stands, in the hope the ripple grows stronger and creates a wave those “thugs” cannot ignore - my thoughts for poor dear Khalil and his family and a shout out for the very brave Jews among us exposing Netanyahu’s nasty destructive policies.

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Thank goodness for Dean Obeidallah's reasoned voice. We are in the midst of a fascist regime - but humans being the adaptable animals that we are - after a mere 100 days this seems almost normal. No one is coming from outside to save us - we have to speak up now and dissent together.

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Agree

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How does an average citizen counteract this behavior particularly one who is elderly with limited funds. We need directions and organization before this get worse; we are in deep shit with no discernible way out. Thank you all for voting for this fool.

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Waiving at you! There are little but important things you can do. FIRST, put all of your federal elected leaders on speed dial. Call them, write them, perhaps once a week. That is something you can do to help. Their staff track calls, e-mails, and letters. I contact my own elected leaders every week, urging them not to vote for anything that this WH suggests. Just NO, or perhaps "Nyet" for Trump to under stand. You can also spam the Department of Education DEI snitch line if you are so inclined. I've done this several times, since it's NOT monitored. Also, talk with your friends and family members about this stuff. People are worried, and will be moreso after today's beating on Wall Street. All the best!!!

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I'm in the same boat with you.

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I fear the damage is going to be irreparable. I've cried so many tears since that man was elected it seems the flow has no end. Is there anything that can be done to help Mr. Kahlil?? Or his wife?

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Maybe a donation to ACLU?

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Respectfullly

It sounds like his arrest is illegal and will be litigated. It’s clearly Trump trying to intimidate opponents. That being said, it doesn’t mean Trump will start mass roundups. Trump has been losing for two weeks. He is losing Court cases, trade wars, and supprt from people that voted for him. Musk lost 13 % of his Tesla holdings today, and Twitter experienced a massive cyber attack. People are fighting back, and I expect even more folks will join us. Focus on what we can control through Positive Proactive DEFIANCE.

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I wish we wouldn't call the students pro Palestinian. I think of them as anti-war.

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I think of them as anti genocide & pro human rights.

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Perhaps this, finally, will wake up Congressional Dems. Nothing else has, though they seem to have coalesced loosely around a message opposing social program cuts for villianaires' tax cuts.

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I think the names and addresses of the villianaires (nice!) should be public information.

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Yes, that’s great! Villianaires is the perfect name for them!👍

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Perfect name! Villainaires!

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And of course, we all know - and respect - Trump’s reverence for Jews … who voted for him. Otherwise, go die, jewboy. How those antisemites love Israel—as long as it’s stripped of Jews and Muslims. It’s just that Muslims are so easy to discriminate against.

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Mr. Kahlil's family needs to find a lawyer who will sue for habeas corpus to try and make sure they don't just disappear him to Gitmo or back to his home country. And they need to hire another lawyer who will sue the shit out of Trump and his thugs for false arrest and false imprisonment without trial. If this is allowed to stand, it will be just the beginning.

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Lawsuits seem ineffective for the Nazi Occupation of ourWhite House.

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He has a lawyer.

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This is horrific. What about the proud white boys who marched on the UVA campus chanting “Jews will not replace us”? Are they “very fine people” just because they are white? Or because they are supporters of the current regime?

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Those ‘Jews will not replace us’ boys got patted on the back, not arrested.

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Please keep us updated on any progress in locating him. I am honestly beyond words regarding this horror. Thanks for all you do!

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OMG this really is Trumpitan 😱 it just keeps getting Worse. Thank You, Dean, for your article today, and will reStack ASAP 🙏💯

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Let me know when Rubio rounds up and revokes the green cards and or the “wet foot/dry foot” immigration status from the Cuban exiles in South Florida who have been involved in terrorist activities. Actual violent crimes, not mere first amendment violations according to him.

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