Steven Thrasher, Assistant Professor and Daniel H. Renberg Chair at Northwestern University, has actively participated in illegal demonstrations, encouraged faculty members to physically defend extremists, and used his academic platform to spread hateful rhetoric. His history of involvement with radical groups and his open support for extremist movements make him a leading figure in the effort to normalize antisemitic and violent rhetoric under the cover of activism.
Encouraging Lawlessness & Violence
Leading Illegal Campus Takeovers
- In 2024, Thrasher participated in at least five illegal encampments at universities, including Northwestern, DePaul, Columbia, and the University of Chicago.
- He publicly called for more “bodies” at these encampments, encouraging mass escalation rather than peaceful dialogue.
- In multiple speeches and social media posts, he justified aggressive confrontations with law enforcement, treating chaos as a form of “political education.”
- His tweets openly called for faculty members to physically defend radical students, escalating tensions and blurring the line between activism and incitement.
Defying Law Enforcement
- On April 25, 2024, he bragged about being part of the “first shift of faculty support” for Northwestern’s encampment, defying university policies and law enforcement efforts to restore order.
- He celebrated forcing police to retreat, framing illegal demonstrations as heroic acts of resistance rather than lawless disruptions.
Pushing Extremist Narratives on Social Media
Demonizing Jewish Communities & Whitewashing Terror
- Thrasher’s social media activity is riddled with conspiracy theories and extremist propaganda, consistently portraying terrorists as justified resistance fighters while erasing their victims.
- January 2025: He amplified articles from Electronic Intifada, a notorious outlet that whitewashes terrorism and spreads conspiracy theories.
- January 2025: He falsely claimed that efforts to ban TikTok were driven by a desire to silence discussions about “genocide” rather than legitimate national security concerns.
- February 2024: He pushed dangerous narratives comparing Jews to colonial oppressors, a classic antisemitic trope used to justify targeting Jewish communities.
- November 2023: He accused Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of racism simply for opposing extremist propaganda.
Longstanding Ties to Extremist Groups
Ties to the Extremist BDS Movement
- Thrasher has openly supported the extremist Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a campaign designed to economically and politically isolate Jewish communities.
- In 2019, during an NYU graduation speech, he praised Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)—a group with a history of harassing Jewish students and justifying violence.
Facing Consequences
- After his direct involvement in illegal encampments, Northwestern canceled his classes, and he was issued citations before they were dropped in July.
- He now faces a hearing before a three-member committee, which will review his actions and determine whether he will be suspended.
A Radical Force on Campus
Steven Thrasher is not just an academic—he is a radical activist who weaponizes his position to spread antisemitic rhetoric, promote extremist movements, and incite lawlessness. His pattern of encouraging illegal demonstrations, defending violent agitators, and pushing conspiracy theories on social media has made him a dangerous figure on campus and beyond.
