CurrentReport Blog In a recent post on social media, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley accused the Trump administration of “terrorising students to silence dissent.” Her strong statement comes after the detention of Turkish graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was targeted by U.S. immigration authorities for her advocacy for Palestinian rights.
Ozturk was apprehended by plainclothes, masked agents in Massachusetts, an incident that was captured on video and has since sparked widespread outrage. Pressley called the act a “kidnapping,” stating that the detention of Ozturk was not just an isolated incident, but part of a broader effort to stifle political dissent.
Several international students, including Ozturk, have had their visas revoked and faced arrests as a direct result of their activism, particularly in opposition to Israel’s war on Gaza. Pressley denounced this crackdown, pointing out that these actions appear to target students with differing political views from those of the Trump administration.
“This administration is terrorising students to silence dissent because that’s what a dictator does,” Pressley wrote in her post. “The only reason she was kidnapped is because she holds a dissenting political view, different from Donald Trump’s. That’s it.”
Pressley’s comments come as part of a larger conversation about free speech in America. She emphasized the importance of protecting dissenting views, regardless of one’s stance on Israel, Palestine, or other political issues. According to Pressley, this should be a serious concern for everyone who values free speech and democracy.
“This should be a five-alarm fire for anyone who cares about free speech and our democracy—regardless of your political party, ideology, or opinion on Israel, Palestine, or any other issue,” Pressley concluded.
This controversy continues to unfold, with growing calls for transparency and accountability from the U.S. government regarding the treatment of students engaged in political activism.
