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Congressman Lamborn Slams San Francisco State University for Hosting Known Terrorist

September 22, 2020

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) sent a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos raising alarm at San Francisco State University's hosting known-terrorist, Leila Khaled for a virtual lecture to university students. Leila Khaled hijacked two planes in 1969 and 1970 with members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Congressman Lamborn issued the following statement:

"As lead sponsor of the Taylor Force Act, I am deeply troubled that federal dollars may be used to subsidize an event that props up a Palestinian terrorist like Mrs. Khaled and provides an academic platform to spread her toxic ideology. Providing a digital forum and platform for an admitted member of a terrorist organization who has unrepentantly committed terrorist acts is not speech or academic inquiry. Rather, it is aiding the dissemination of terrorist propaganda and materially supporting terrorism. Leila Khaled is unwelcome in the European Union, unwelcome in the United States, and she should be unwelcome in Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco as well."

San Francisco State University plans to host the event with Leila Khaled on "Gender, Justice, & Resistance" on September 23rd at 1:30 pm MT. SFSU's president, Lynn Mahoney, has defended the decision, saying: "Rather than stifle speech, we must encourage robust questioning and dissent, and ensure that our students and faculty are free from retaliation or censorship for doing so." In 2017, SFSU notably cancelled Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat's appearance on their campus.

Read the full letter here.

Contact: Cassandra Sebastian (719) 520-0055