Maryam Alwan, a student at Columbia University, has built a troubling reputation as an outspoken supporter of terrorist organizations, a promoter of anti-Semitism, and an advocate for the destruction of Israel. As an organizer with Columbia’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Alwan has consistently used her platform to glorify violence, spread incitement, and dehumanize Israelis and Jews. Her affiliation with extremist organizations like Within Our Lifetime (WOL), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) underscores her commitment to radical ideologies.

Maryam Alwan’s Support for Terrorism and Glorification of Violence

Alwan has repeatedly voiced her support for acts of terrorism under the guise of “resistance.” At an April 8, 2023, AMP rally, she joined the infamous chant, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free!”—a slogan widely recognized as a call for the eradication of Jews. Similarly, during a WOL rally in 2022, she led chants glorifying intifada and resistance, stating:

• “There is only one solution! Intifada, revolution!”
• “Intifada, Intifada! Long live the Intifada!”

The term “intifada” carries an explicit connotation of violence and terror, having been marked by suicide bombings, shootings, and stabbings targeting civilians.

Anti-Semitic Rhetoric

Alwan’s rhetoric frequently targets Jews and denies their historical ties to the Land of Israel. During a WOL rally in 2022, she participated in chants like:

• “Settlers, settlers, go back home! Palestine is our home!”
  Such statements delegitimize Jewish historical and cultural connections to the region while promoting an exclusionary vision of Palestinian supremacy.

At a November 15, 2023, rally, Alwan dehumanized Jews, stating:

• “My grandparents are older than the State of Israel. They survived the waves of ethnic cleansing that the Zionist project necessitated.”
  This false narrative demonizes Israel while whitewashing the atrocities committed by groups like Hamas.

Arrest and Participation in the Pro-Hamas Encampment

In April 2024, Alwan was arrested during the pro-Hamas “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University, where activists barricaded themselves in university buildings and took a university worker hostage. Alwan, undeterred by her suspension from Columbia, defiantly declared:

• “We are here today to demand that Columbia divest immediately from all stakes in Israeli apartheid.”
  The encampment, organized by extremist groups like SJP and JVP, glorified Hamas’s terror campaign while pushing for anti-Israel policies under the banner of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Affiliation with Extremist Groups

Alwan’s affiliations extend to groups like Within Our Lifetime (WOL) and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), both of which are known for glorifying terrorism and promoting incitement. WOL, for instance, openly calls to “globalize the intifada” and “resist by any means necessary.” Alwan’s participation in these organizations highlights her alignment with their radical goals and methods.

Conclusion

Maryam Alwan’s actions, affiliations, and rhetoric paint a clear picture of someone deeply entrenched in anti-Semitic and extremist ideologies. Her unwavering support for terrorism, her attempts to incite violence, and her rejection of Jewish self-determination mark her as a deeply troubling figure on the Columbia University campus and beyond.