The Justice Department has filed an outrageous and dangerous civil complaint against pro-Palestinian protesters in New Jersey as the latest step in the Trump administration’s continuing effort to weaponize charges of antisemitism to shut down free speech. This time, the corrupt Trump Justice Department has invoked a law primarily used to protect abortion clinics in order to go after opponents of Israel’s crimes, seeking fines in excess of $30,000.
In November 2024, there was a protest outside an event being held at a West Orange synagogue promoting the sale of real estate in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law. The Justice Department claimed that an altercation that ensued was caused by the protesters, but unmentioned by the Justice Dept. is that months ago the Essex County prosecutor examined the relevant evidence and chose to indict not the pro-Palestinian protesters but only the aggressive pro-Israel counter-demonstrators, who were charged with bias intimidation, aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
In recent weeks, Trump has gone after his personal enemies, progressive funders, anyone who failed to worship Charlie Kirk, Democratic mayors and governors, universities (again), and the media – all part of his imagined “enemy from within.” This complaint is part of that assault on our civil liberties and we unequivocally condemn the complaint and the broader attack on democracy.