Chip Gibbons

December 1, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at December 1, 2025

Defending Rights & Dissent Input for UN Thematic Report on Definitions of Terrorism

The following was submitted by Chip Gibbons on behalf of Defending Rights & Dissent to Mr. Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, in response to the UN’s call for input on definitions of “terrorism”, “terrorist organisation” and

October 2, 2025

Images of bombed-out Gaza and a Palestine protest

Published by Chip Gibbons at October 2, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (10/2/25)

Sign up here to receive future Gaza First Amendment Alerts directly in your inbox. In Landmark Ruling, Judge Delivers Stunning Rebuke to Trump-Rubio Deportation Drive On September 29, 2025, U.S. District Judge William G. Young found the Secretary of State Rubio and

July 24, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at July 24, 2025

DHS Distributed “Situational Awareness Bulletin” About Film ‘How To Blow Up A Pipeline’

An investigation by Defending Rights & Dissent has revealed that the Department of Homeland Security distributed a “situational awareness bulletin” in advance of the release of the film How To Blow Up A Pipeline to law enforcement agencies across the

July 23, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at July 23, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (7/23/25)

Sign up here to receive future editions of the Gaza First Amendment Alert in your inbox. Lawsuit Brought by Academic Associations Expose Trump’s Ideological Deportation Policies A lawsuit brought against the Trump administration by The Knight First Amendment Institute on

July 21, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at July 21, 2025

Defending Rights & Dissent Lawsuit Uncovers FBI Surveillance of Journalists and Peace Activists at Left Forum

On the weekend of June 1, 2018, activists, academics, and writers gathered at John Jay College of Criminal Justice for the annual Left Forum conference. With roots in the Socialists Scholars Conference, Left Forum was regularly one of the largest

July 10, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at July 10, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (7/10/25)

Sign up here to receive future Gaza First Amendment Alerts. Calls to Denaturalize Democratic Mayoral Nominee Over Support for Palestine, Democratic Socialist Politics Grow In a surprise upset, New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani defeated by a wide margin former

June 24, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at June 24, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (6/24/25)

Trump At War On the evening of Saturday June 21, Donald Trump announced via social media the U.S. dropped bombs on three nuclear sites in Iran. Later that evening, he gave a televised address, describing the strikes as “massive, precision

June 5, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at June 5, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (6/5/25)

Mahmoud Khalil Receives Partial Victory On Wednesday May 25, 2025, U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz made a ruling on Mahmoud Khalil’s request for a preliminary injunction. As part of Khalil’s federal habeas petition arguing his detention is illegal, Khalil

May 16, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at May 16, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (May 16, 2025)

Trump-Rubio Deportation Drive Suffers Further Setbacks The Trump administration’s targeting of permanent residents and visa holders for retaliatory immigration process has hit further setbacks. Two more federal judges granted bail to two visa holders challenging their detention pursuant to a

May 2, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at May 2, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (May 2, 2025)

Mohsen Mahdawi Ordered Free Pending Deportation Proceeding On April 30, 2025, federal District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford granted bail to Mohsen Mahdawi. As reported in the previous edition of the Gaza First Amendment Alert, Mahdawi is a graduate student at

April 18, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at April 18, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (April 18, 2025)

Sign up here to receive future Gaza First Amendment Alerts in your inbox. Rubio Targets Another Permanent Resident Over Columbia Protests; Majority of Americans Oppose Abuse of Immigration to Chill Free Speech Rights On April 14, 2025, Mohsen Mahdawi arrived for what

April 4, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at April 4, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (April 04, 2025)

Rubio Ramps Up Political Abuse of Immigration Process, College Administrators Appease Anti-Free Speech Crackdown Sign up here to receive future Gaza First Amendment Alerts in your inbox. Marco Rubio Seeks to Deport Tufts Graduate Student for Writing An Op-ed On

February 21, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at February 21, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (February 21, 2025)

Trump Declares National Emergency Over ICC Arrest Warrants for Israeli War Criminals, Issues Sanctions with Potentially Troubling Impact for Americans’ First Amendment Rights On February 6, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court.

February 10, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at February 10, 2025

Tulsi Gabbard’s Nomination for Director of National Intelligence

On February 4, 2025, the Senate Select Intelligence Committee voted 9-8 along partisan lines to advance Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination for Director of National Intelligence to the full Senate. During the hearing Gabbard was repeatedly attacked for her past dissenting views

February 3, 2025

Published by Chip Gibbons at February 3, 2025

Gaza First Amendment Alert (February 3, 2025)

Attacks on First Amendment Continue as Fragile Ceasefire Holds When we last went to press, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas had just been announced. Since then, Israel and Hamas have begun initial exchanges of captives. Hundreds of thousands of