An unknown group has launched a new website that publishes the profiles of pro-Palestinian student activists in the United States in an effort to prevent them from getting hired after they graduate from college.
The website, called Canary Mission, went live in mid-May and includes profiles of 54 pro-Palestinian activists, primarily university students and professors, with photos and links to their social media profiles.
“It is your duty to ensure that today’s radicals are not tomorrow’s employees,” a video explanation on the anti-Muslim website warns.
The activists say that posting names on the website is harassment and “driven by deep hatred and prejudice.”
Among those listed on the Canary Mission website is Omar Barghouti, founder of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to increase economic and political pressure on Israel.
The BDS movement seeks to end the Israeli occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands and respect the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
The BDS boycott campaign against Israel began in July 2005 by 171 Palestinian organizations, which calls for "various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets its obligations under international law.”
Despite its dedication to documenting the identities of pro-Palestinian activists, Canary Mission has kept the identities of its own members and backers completely hidden. There are no names of staff members, volunteers, donors or allies published on the website.
The group’s MailChimp account identifies its ZIP code as 10458, a corner of the Bronx in New York City that includes Fordham University.
Filmmaker Rebecca Pierce first learned that she had been profiled on the site, when it highlighted her as “Radical of the Day.”
“The website is filled with racist stereotypes about our activism, and intentionally tries to tie a diverse non-violent student movement to antisemitism and terror,” Pierce said in an email to the Guardian.
“I do worry about future employers potentially seeing this and getting the wrong idea, but I stand behind my activism and won’t allow racist extremists to intimidate me.”
AHT/AGB