Black Muslim Student Faces Deportation for Pro-Palestinian Expression at Cornell (Momodou Taal)

On Wednesday, September 18, a group of students from multiple Cornell student groups under the umbrella organization Coalition for Mutual Liberation disrupted a career fair taking place at The Statler Hotel, on the Cornell Campus. The students chose to undertake a disruptive action at this career fair two because Boeing and L3Harris were present at the fair, and according to the students, these companies are connected to the flow of military supplies being used by Israel to commit atrocities in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
Coverage of that can be seen via the Cornell Daily Sun here:
cornellsun.com...
Momodou Taal is a British national, who was present at this action. He is the first to face disciplinary action from the university for being present at that action, and Cornell's disciplinary action could result in the deportation of Taal.
This will be the first instance of the deportation of a student for pro-Palestinian speech.
Taal, who is Black and Muslim, is a part of the Cornell Graduate Student Union, which is alleging discrimination, and has been in contact with the university regarding this.
This video was shot on the morning of September 24, less than a day after the news of disciplinary action against Taal broke. It was shot yards away from Cornell's campus, as the university communicated to Taal that he was permitted to be on campus at the time. Cornell has accused Taal of, among other things, pushing a campus police officer, but not provided evidence of this, at this time.
Taal was involved with pro-Palestinian organizing at Cornell last academic year, which included a sit in at Day Hall, as well as an encampment in the last weeks of the semester, which disbanded when the semester ended.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, Cornell highlighted freedom of expression as a theme of the year, while cracking down on pro-Palestinian expression, using a policy it created during the same year, the Interim Expressive Activity Policy:
policy.cornell...
www.thefire.or...
In recent weeks, Cornell University has released these statements:
statements.cor...
statements.cor...
Thus far, Cornell's media relations office is refusing to answer my questions about why Taal is being suspended by the university-prior to an investigation into wrongdoing-which will set of a known set of events that will likely result in deportation.
The university is also refusing to answer my questions about how the university sees itself, in terms of defending minority right and rights to free expression, while targeting a Black Muslim international student at a time when rhetorical and physical attacks on Black communities, Muslim communities, and foreign nationals has been increasing.
Under U.S. law, it is prohibited to transfer military assistance to foreign security forces "where there is credible information implicating that unit in the commission of gross violations of human rights." But in the case of Israel, these laws are not upheld.
www.state.gov/...

[@hotflashveganofficial]

Thank you so much for bringing attention to this issue. Cornell University is very unfair.

[@fernfigs]

Good work Aaron!

[@Newfoundspirit2-9]

Africans in the UK are doing Big things. Good to see.

[@Orion-lt3zz]

A British citizen.

[@Thtgrlsyd]

an international issue.