Wendy Pearlman has used her academic platform at Northwestern University to promote pro-Palestinian extremism, normalize hostility toward Israel, and amplify movements that have made Jewish students feel unsafe on campus. Through public commentary, student engagement, and social media, she has become a key enabler of divisive rhetoric cloaked in the language of human rights and academic freedom.
Long History of Radical Affiliation
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As a graduate student at Harvard, Pearlman served as president of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a group notorious for its extremist anti-Israel activism and support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
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Pearlman is an active member of the Educators for Justice in Palestine (EJP) at Northwestern, an organization that has backed disruptive encampments and endorsed extremist narratives.
Public Advocacy for Extremism and Anti-Israel Activism
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Repeatedly criticized Israel’s self-defense actions, portraying them as “war crimes” while ignoring or minimizing the atrocities committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups.
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On social media, Pearlman has amplified calls for ceasefires without acknowledging the mass murders of civilians that triggered Israel’s military responses, and used hashtags like #FreePalestine to align herself with movements that frequently glorify violence against Israelis.
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Shared a petition demanding humanitarian access to Gaza just days after October 7, without mentioning the unprecedented massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas.
Supporting and Shielding Campus Extremism
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Led a discussion at the Northwestern encampment on “Palestinian national mobilization and resistance,” directly validating extremist student activism that has been widely documented for spreading antisemitic rhetoric.
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Shared and supported faculty letters defending student protests, even as these protests created hostile environments for Jewish students and violated campus policies.
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Through a now-publicized video posted by NU Educators for Justice in Palestine, Pearlman praised the illegal campus encampments, framing them as peaceful even while reports indicated harassment and intimidation took place.
Distorting Reality in Public Discourse
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In a CNN opinion piece (December 2023), Pearlman attacked efforts to address campus antisemitism, arguing that accusations of antisemitism were simply tactics used to silence criticism of Israel—a dangerous minimization of the real threats Jewish students face.
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Published an article titled “Gaza Will Not Bring Israel Security” in New Lines Magazine, blaming Israel for instability while ignoring Palestinian incitement and terrorism.
Why Wendy Pearlman’s Influence is Dangerous
- Mainstreams extremist views under the guise of academic debate.
- Minimizes antisemitism while amplifying anti-Israel and pro-terror narratives.
- Supports movements and encampments that have harassed and marginalized Jewish students.
- Distorts the conflict to portray terrorism as legitimate resistance.
Conclusion
Wendy Pearlman represents a growing trend of faculty-driven radicalization on elite campuses like Northwestern. By framing extremist activism as scholarly engagement and silencing concerns about antisemitism, Pearlman contributes directly to an environment of hostility, fear, and division. Her presence and influence endanger academic integrity, campus safety, and the principles of genuine intellectual inquiry.
