University of Wisconsin suspends Students for Justice in Palestine chapter

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has suspended the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) following an investigation into its disruption of an April event featuring former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Thomas-Greenfield, a UW graduate, was on campus to speak about “rapid change in U.S. foreign policy” under former President Donald Trump when she was interrupted multiple times by SJP members and affiliated activists, the College Fix reports.

Thomas-Greenfield, who served under the Biden administration from 2021-25, supports Israel in its war with Hamas. Thomas-Greenfield vetoed four resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire while serving under the Biden administration, irking the pro-Palestinian group, according to the Daily Cardinal.

“Such a flagrant display of support for genocidal complicity, and callous indifference to the suffering experienced by affected members in our community, was unacceptable to many of us and could only be met with clear opposition,” SJP wrote in an Instagram post.

One protester, standing alongside two others holding Code Pink banners, told Thomas-Greenfield, “If you care about people, tens of thousands of children in Gaza have been massacred, Linda!”

The university cited the group for “unauthorized distribution of fliers,” “obstruction of entrances,” use of “amplified sound” and “disorderly conduct.”

SJP also was found to have violated probation imposed last October over rule violations tied to a pro-Palestinian encampment.

UW SJP noted the committee reviewing the allegations recommended a year of “disciplinary probation.” However, Dean of Students Kathy Kruse unilaterally overruled the decision and suspended the group, the reports said.

“This conforms with the pattern of other university administrations who have been suspending pro-Palestine student organizations, withholding degrees and barring students from campus and graduation events simply for speaking up about Palestine,” SJP said.

SJP argued the suspension was “yet another smoking gun” showing the university is “enrolled in the institutionalization of Zionism and is more than willing to capitulate to U.S. imperialism.”

If upheld, the suspension will bar SJP from holding events or meetings, except for one weekly executive board meeting – until January 2026. The group says it will appeal to the vice chancellor of Student Affairs.

UW SJP has organized several pro-Palestinian protests on campus in the past two years, most notably a 12-day encampment on Library Mall in the spring of 2024 – during which SJP called on the university to divest from Israel.

Also last year, Thomas-Greenfield was prevented from speaking at the University of Vermont and Xavier University after objections from pro-Palestinian student activists.