Zakia Salime, a professor in the Department of Women and Gender Studies at Rutgers University, has a long history of promoting radical ideologies, defending individuals who incite violence, and supporting movements that threaten Jewish communities. Through her endorsements, signatures, and public statements, she has repeatedly aligned herself with some of the most notorious figures and organizations that propagate antisemitism and extremism.

Zakia Salime ‘s Defending Campus Extremists

🔴 Championing Radical Student Groups
In 2017, Salime signed a letter condemning Fordham University for blocking the establishment of a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter—a group known for harassment, intimidation, and radicalizing students on campuses. Fordham justified its decision based on the behavior of other SJP chapters, citing safety concerns.

Rather than acknowledge these risks, Salime joined calls to force Fordham to accept SJP, falsely equating its activities with free speech. The petition she signed even praised SJP’s boycott campaigns, ignoring the group’s long record of campus disruption and hostility toward Jewish students.

Backing Extremist Agitators

🔴 Ilhan Omar’s Antisemitic Rhetoric
In 2019, Salime rushed to defend Rep. Ilhan Omar after she was condemned by congressional leaders for her antisemitic remarks. Omar has repeatedly spread conspiracy theories about Jewish influence and pushed for economic warfare against Jewish communities.

Salime dismissed these concerns, tweeting:
“Calling out AIPAC & supporting Palestinian rights is not anti-Semitic.”

She then praised Omar as ‘brave,’ despite the congresswoman’s well-documented history of inflammatory statements.

🔴 Marc Lamont Hill’s Call for Violence
When CNN fired Marc Lamont Hill in 2018 after he endorsed a violent uprising and called for the destruction of the Jewish state at the United Nations, Salime once again leapt to his defense. She signed and promoted a petition demanding CNN rehire him, even after he was exposed for promoting conspiracy theories and legitimizing terrorist violence.

Hill’s speech, which Salime supported, included:

• A call for a ‘free Palestine from the river to the sea’—a well-known slogan used by terrorist groups as a call for eradicating the Jewish population.
• The accusation that Israel was poisoning Palestinian water—an antisemitic blood libel reminiscent of medieval conspiracy theories.
• Implicit approval of violent resistance against Israelis.

Supporting Known Antisemites

🔴 Defending Steven Salaita’s Hate Speech
Salime also advocated for disgraced academic Steven Salaita, whose offer of employment was revoked by the University of Illinois after his hateful, violent rhetoric surfaced.

Salaita’s statements included:

• “I wish all the f***ing West Bank settlers would go missing.” (Tweeted after the kidnapping of three Jewish teenagers by Hamas)
• “I will die unapologetic.” (After refusing to acknowledge his antisemitic remarks)

Despite his open incitement to violence, Salime signed a petition demanding his reinstatement, further proving her alignment with extremist figures.

The Real Danger: Her Influence at Rutgers

Zakia Salime is not just another radical professor. She is an academic who actively defends individuals who spread antisemitism, support violent movements, and push dangerous conspiracy theories. Her position at Rutgers University raises serious concerns about her influence over students and the broader campus environment.

As Protect Our Campus continues to expose faculty members who fuel division and hate, Rutgers must take accountability for allowing an extremist voice like Salime’s to shape young minds.