Katherine Franke, a Columbia University professor specializing in law, gender, and racial justice, has drawn significant criticism for her public support of terrorist organizations, defense of violent protests, and promotion of antisemitic rhetoric. Franke, a long-time advocate for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, has used her academic and activist platforms to justify terrorism and spread harmful ideologies targeting Jewish communities. Her leadership roles in anti-Israel organizations further amplify her troubling rhetoric.

Katherine Franke’s Support for Terror

Franke justified the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks, which included mass murder, rape, torture, and kidnappings of civilians, by describing them as a “military response” and “resistance” against Israel. This language, widely criticized as glorifying violence, minimizes the atrocities committed and perpetuates a narrative that excuses acts of terror. Franke signed and promoted a public statement reframing the attacks as part of a larger “right to resist,” a euphemism often used to legitimize terrorism. Her rhetoric has emboldened extremist narratives while fostering hostility toward Jewish individuals and communities.

Defense of Violent Protests

In addition to her justification of Hamas violence, Franke has a history of promoting extremist organizations such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries, including the U.S. and the EU. She moderated events that challenged these designations and even encouraged financial contributions to groups tied to terrorism. Franke’s involvement in and defense of violent protests further underscores her role in fostering a climate of incitement and extremism within academic and activist spaces.

Highlighting Her Activity:

• Justifying Terrorism: Publicly defended Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terror attacks as “resistance,” minimizing atrocities against civilians.
• Promotion of Antisemitic Rhetoric: Spread harmful narratives targeting Jewish communities under the guise of activism.
• Support for Extremist Organizations: Advocated for groups like PFLP and encouraged financial contributions to organizations linked to terrorism.
• Defense of Violent Protests: Publicly supported events and actions characterized by incitement and physical violence, furthering extremism.