The fight is far from over. The genocide is still happening in Gaza. Israel is still waging a full war against Palestinians, across Palestine. OK? He's not resisting me. I didn't notice what happened. You're going to have to come with us. I'm coming with you. No way. You know one thing and the one thing. We're just going for it. Again. Let's go back, go back. Back up. Back up.
Everyone agrees that the persecution based on political speech is wrong and it is a violation of all of our First Amendment rights, not just Mahmoud's. They are violating the law, and they know that they are violating the law, and they are trying to use these one-off examples to intimidate everyone else.
The US government is funding this genocide, and Columbia University is investing in this genocide. This is what I was protesting. This is what I will continue to protest with every one of you. Not only if they threaten me with detention. Even if they would kill me, I would still speak up for Palestine.
And again. I just want to go back and just continue the work that I was already doing, advocating for Palestinian rights. A speech that should actually be celebrated then, rather than punished as this administration wants to do.
But we will take a few questions to say to the Trump administration. Thank you. It's time. Just the fact that I am here. It's it's a message, the fact that all these attempts to suppress pro-Palestine voices, has, have, have failed now. So this is the message. My my existence is a message. The Palestinian existence is a message to this administration. You have to be free.
How does it feel to be free? To be honest, I'm. I'm still trying to, just comprehend that. Of course it feels great. When I was on the inside, it was free. It's just I was locked up. The fact that they put me in that place, that didn't mean that I was not free. I continued to advocate for Palestinians, for the emigrants who are left behind in that facility. That 1200 men who. All of them are incredible men who the Trump administration are trying to portray as whether criminals or just like illegals, as they say. And as I said yesterday, whether you are a citizen, an immigrant, anyone on this land, you're not illegal. That doesn't make you less of a human. And this is what the administration is trying to do to do humanize me; to dehumanize the immigrants.
First of all, first and foremost, I think we speak on behalf of so many people across this country, across the state of New York, but also across so many communities in the United States in welcoming my family home to be here and to be reunited with his wife and his newborn son. Khalil was in prison for 104 days by this administration, by the Trump administration, with no grounds and for political reasons because Mahmoud Khalil is an advocate for Palestinian human rights. He has been accused baselessly of horrific allegations simply because the Trump administration and our overall establishment disagrees with his political speech. This was a form his detention by Ice being taken from his home as well as other advocates. Miss Osric in in Boston Massachusetts ripped off of the street being taken is wrong. It is illegal. It is a violation of his First Amendment rights. It is an affront to every American and we will not allow and we will continue to resist the politicization and the continued political persecution that Ice is engaged in. And so we welcome Mahmood home. We will continue to support.
I also want to thank the incredible work of CCR, the ACLU, new IMU, and many other advocacy organizations, the lawyers and organizers on the ground who have supported his family. And I have to, of course, thank my staff in office Maureen doctor who has done so much incredible work as well in ensuring that Mahmood gets the justice and dignity that he deserves.
And so right now right now we hope that and we wish for Mahmood and his family to be able to enjoy some peace after an incredibly difficult 104 days. But we also have a path ahead of us this is not over and we will have to continue to support this case. And I also want to thank I know we have represented from Senator Schumer’s office and others because everybody agrees everyone agrees that the persecution based on political speech is wrong and it is a violation of all of our First Amendment rights not just Mahmood.
It feels relief. President Trump, I think the thing that we know first and foremost is that, the Trump administration knows that they are waging a losing legal battle. They are violating the law, and they know that they are violating the law, and they are trying to use these one off examples to intimidate everyone else from not going to school from not using their speech, etc.. And so we hope we've seen that a judge has tossed it, tossed out their actions not just once, but twice. And we hope to continue, to advocate for the administration to follow the law, frankly.
Well first friends thank you so much for everything not only for today it’s just for everyday like just use words use your words to support your messages have kept me going.