In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland this week, the Republican senator Josh Hawley demanded a federal investigation into dark money groups subsidizing “pro-terrorist student organizations” holding anti-Israel protests on college campuses.
He cited Politico reporting linking big liberal philanthropies to some pro-Palestinian organizers.
Open Society Foundations, for example, founded by the oft-demonized George Soros, has given grants to the anti-Zionist Jewish Voice for Peace, which has an active university presence.
That’s one reason I fear that the backlash to the pro-Palestinian campus movement — which includes lawsuits, hearings and legislation — could help Republicans wage war on progressive nonprofits more broadly.
If they do, the right would be following a well-worn authoritarian playbook.
Persons:
General Merrick Garland, Josh Hawley, George Soros, Hawley, “, Garland, Donald Trump, Trump, Rachel Kleinfeld, Kleinfeld, it’s
Organizations:
Politico, Society, Jewish Voice, Soros, Carnegie Endowment, International, Service, Carnegie
Locations:
Israel, Hungary