When antisemitic leftists play the ‘Jewish card’
American ThinkerMAR 18
Judge Orders Release of Detained Tufts Student
Above: People protest in solidarity with Rumeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi outside a New York Federal Court as the court hears the U.S. government's request to appeal the decisions in their cases on May 6, 2025. Image copyright: Selcuk Acar/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Öztürk's detention for co-writing an op-ed criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza was a gross violation of free speech from the start, making this ruling welcome but long overdue. Öztürk's rights, protected by Supreme Court precedent like Bridges v. Wixon, have been completely ignored. While her bail release is crucial, her case should now be completely dropped for good.
Republican narrative
Öztürk's detention was lawful, as her op-ed supporting Hamas, a terrorist group responsible for the Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Jews, violated her visa terms. Supreme Court precedent does protect free speech, but not advocacy for terrorism. Her release undermines national security and enables dangerous rhetoric. Her case should proceed to ensure accountability for all foreigners promoting violence.