A Northwestern University law clinic is providing free legal defense to a group of radicals responsible for a blockade at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport last spring, an act that disrupted travel for thousands of passengers. The protestors, supporters of Hamas, blocked critical access roads to O’Hare in a coordinated action meant to support Palestinian groups in the wake of Hamas’s October 7th terror attack. One of the key organizers, Rifqa Falaneh, has a history of accusing the university of “anti-Palestinian discrimination” and has filed multiple civil rights complaints against Northwestern.
Sheila Bedi’s Involvement
Sheila Bedi, a law professor at Northwestern and head of the school’s Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic, is representing the blockade organizers, including Falaneh. The clinic, which offers pro bono legal services funded by the university’s law school and donors, has faced harsh criticism for devoting resources to defending individuals whose actions align with a terrorist organization.
The blockade, organized as part of a national campaign aimed at disrupting U.S. corporations doing business with Israel, left travelers stranded, causing major delays at the airport. The Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute has filed a class action suit against the Hamas supporters, seeking civil damages for the inconvenience caused to the public. Yet Bedi’s clinic, instead of distancing itself from such extremism, is providing them with free legal counsel.
Bedi’s clinic is a prominent feature of Northwestern’s legal program, providing law students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience by representing clients. However, critics argue that it is highly inappropriate for the university to fund a program that defends individuals who support Hamas, a group that has been classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Ted Frank, director of litigation at the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute, called the university’s support for Bedi’s work “a glaring misuse of resources.” He argued that these legal services, funded by the university’s tuition dollars, donors, and taxpayer money, are being used to support radicals who seek to undermine Western values and support violent extremists.
Falaneh’s Support for Terrorism
Falaneh, who has openly celebrated the October 7th Hamas attacks, repeatedly dismissed the idea of Israeli civilians as innocent victims. She has voiced support for the actions of Hamas, calling for “many more October 7ths until full Liberation” and has been active in organizing protests aimed at halting any support for Israel.
Additional Protesters Under Legal Scrutiny
In addition to Falaneh, Bedi is representing three other protesters named in the lawsuit: Jinan Chehade, Superior Murphy, and Simone Tucker. Chehade, a former leader of a pro-Palestinian group at DePaul University, also participated in the Northwestern protest camp. After her outspoken anti-Israel views led to the loss of a job offer from a major law firm, she has continued to work closely with groups that promote anti-Israel rhetoric.
Ethical Questions and University’s Role
Bedi’s defense of these Hamas supporters raises serious ethical questions. It reflects a broader trend of anti-Israel activism within elite universities, where professors and students are using their platforms to support groups with ties to violent extremism. While Northwestern claims that Bedi’s legal work does not represent the views of the university, the support of Hamas sympathizers through the law clinic presents a troubling message about the institution’s stance on terrorism and extremism.\
With increasing numbers of students across the nation organizing to promote the causes of violent extremist groups like Hamas, it is crucial for universities to re-examine their role in facilitating such actions. In this case, Northwestern’s law school appears to be lending its resources to defend individuals whose actions and ideology align with a terrorist organization, and the university’s involvement in such legal defense may inadvertently lend legitimacy to extremist views that have no place in a civilized society.