Alex Abdo
@alexabdo.bsky.social
12K followers 330 following 140 posts
Litigation Director, Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University (he/him)
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Reposted by Alex Abdo
jameeljaffer.bsky.social
Very proud of my colleagues right now--especially @ramyakrishnan.bsky.social and @alexabdo.bsky.social. But we could not have got this far without the superb trial lawyers at Sher Tremonte. Grateful to them for all of the time and energy they put into this case. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/u...
Judge Rules Trump Unlawfully Targeted Noncitizens Over Pro-Palestinian Speech
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Alex Abdo
mmasnick.bsky.social
Tomorrow night, for folks not planning to watch the Yankees/Red Sox game, the 92nd St Y has four different talks. Thomas Friedman, Malcolm Gladwell, Kate McKinnon/Penn Badgley... or *me* with Lee Rowland & @alexabdo.bsky.social! (Ours is streaming only, not in person).
92nd St. Y schedule for tomorrow night:

Thomas Friedman in Conversation with Ambassador Dennis Ross: Israel, The Middle East, and the Future of Diplomacy at 6pm ET

Shadowbanned & Shut Down: Censorship in the Digital Public Square
Mike Masnick, Lee Rowland, and Alex Abdo with Thane Rosenbaum at 7pm ET

Malcolm Gladwell in Conversation with Benjamin Naddaff-Hafrey: Revenge of the Tipping Point at 7:30pm ET

An Evening with Kate McKinnon and Penn Badgley: The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science — Secrets of the Purple Pearl at 8pm ET
Reposted by Alex Abdo
Reposted by Alex Abdo
raskin.house.gov
Condemning another absolutely disgraceful act of gun violence. My thoughts & prayers are w/ Charlie Kirk & his family in this terrible moment & we are all grateful for first responders who immediately jumped into action.

We must categorically reject all violence in our society.
alexabdo.bsky.social
Chief Justice Roberts (2007): “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”

Justice Kavanaugh (2025): ethnicity “can be a 'relevant factor' when considered along with other salient factors” in immigration stops.
Quoting from Justice Roberts in a recent decision
Reposted by Alex Abdo
jameeljaffer.bsky.social
The Columbia settlement is an “astonishing transfer of autonomy and authority to . . . an administration whose disdain for the values of the academy is demonstrated anew every day.” New @knightcolumbia.org analysis of the Columbia settlement, just published. knightcolumbia.org/blog/what-th...
What the Columbia Settlement Really Means
knightcolumbia.org
alexabdo.bsky.social
On our site, you can also see some of the statements we've issued relating to Columbia's handling of student protests. Here's one, for example:

knightcolumbia.org/blog/knight-...
Knight Institute Calls for Urgent “Course Correction” on Response to Student Protests at Columbia University
knightcolumbia.org
alexabdo.bsky.social
alexabdo.bsky.social
We're based at Columbia, but we're a separate c3. You can see our docket here: knightcolumbia.org/litigation/

Including cases like this one, challenging the Trump administration's deportation of students on the basis of speech:

knightcolumbia.org/cases/aaup-v...
American Association of University Professors v. Rubio
knightcolumbia.org
alexabdo.bsky.social
Fall 2026 ... sorry!
alexabdo.bsky.social
Recent law grads — we're now hiring for legal fellows to begin in Fall 2025. Our First Amendment rights are under daily assault. I hope you'll consider applying to work with us at @knightcolumbia.org to push back.

knightcolumbia.org/page/legal-f...
| Knight First Amendment Institute
knightcolumbia.org
Reposted by Alex Abdo
jameeljaffer.bsky.social
JUST IN: the Ninth Circuit has revived the @elfaroenglish.bsky.social case against NSO Group. Congrats to my @knightcolumbia.org colleague @carriedecell.bsky.social, who argued the appeal, and to our co-counsel at Selendy Gay. Statement coming shortly. knightcolumbia.org/documents/1x...
alexabdo.bsky.social
Enjoyed this conversation with @cristianfarias.com about our upcoming trial — starting July 7 — in our suit challenging the Trump administration's policy of deporting students and scholars based on their pro-Palestinian expression.
knightcolumbia.org
🔊NEW PODCAST: In the lead-up to next week's trial, listen to a primer on our pivotal case challenging the Trump admin's policy of arresting, detaining, & deporting noncitizen students & faculty who participate in pro-Palestinian activism. W/ @alexabdo.bsky.social. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Protests, Deportations, and the Climate of Repression on Campus
Podcast Episode · The Bully's Pulpit: Trump v. The First Amendment · 06/27/2025 · 28m
podcasts.apple.com
alexabdo.bsky.social
This amicus brief by @ccrjustice.org and Palestine Legal rightly points out that Title VI does not—and could not constitutionally—require universities to suppress criticism of Israel's policies.

static1.squarespace.com/static/54874...
Reposted by Alex Abdo
pct3.bsky.social
We're hiring! If you're eager to work at the ACLU on issues where civil liberties and national security meet, we're hiring for an attorney position.

And help us spread the word!

www.aclu.org/careers/appl...
Careers at ACLU
Join our team! We’re looking for committed, passionate people for open roles at the ACLU.
www.aclu.org
alexabdo.bsky.social
We're based at Columbia, but we're a separate c3. You can see our docket here: knightcolumbia.org/litigation/

Including cases like this one, challenging the Trump administration's deportation of students on the basis of speech:

knightcolumbia.org/cases/aaup-v...
American Association of University Professors v. Rubio
knightcolumbia.org
alexabdo.bsky.social
The position is based in New York.
alexabdo.bsky.social
NEW JOB: The Knight Institute (@knightcolumbia.org) is looking for a staff attorney to join us for a two-year position. It's an extremely busy time for the First Amendment, and we could use some more hands on deck!

knightcolumbia.org/page/staff_a...
| Knight First Amendment Institute
knightcolumbia.org
Reposted by Alex Abdo
genevievelakier.bsky.social
In a really important passage, the judge rejects the relevance of the Second Red Scare precedents that the govt is relying upon, and affirms the significance of the 1A interests at stake here. The opinion makes clear how egregious the govt's actions have been.
Reposted by Alex Abdo
jameeljaffer.bsky.social
Federal court says First Amendment bars government from arresting, deporting foreign students on basis of pro-Palestine advocacy. Important ruling from Judge Young just now in case brought by @aaup.bsky.social @mesa1966.bsky.social @knightcolumbia.org. knightcolumbia.org/content/fede...
alexabdo.bsky.social
Free speech is under grave assault, and it’s not obvious how to push back in a way that will be effective.

Looking forward to discussing that question at tomorrow’s panel.
cdt.org
Who will stand up for free expression? Join CDT + a powerhouse panel — incl. FCC’s @agomezfcc.bsky.social, @alexabdo.bsky.social, Kate Tumarello & @alexreevegivens.bsky.social — for a convo on defending the First Amendment.

🗓️ April 24 | 2-3PM ET | Webinar

RSVP: cdt.org/event/who-wi...
Graphic for a CDT event, entitled “Who Will Fight for the First Amendment? Protecting Free Expression at a Critical Time.” Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 2-3pm ET.
Reposted by Alex Abdo
normative.bsky.social
I feel like we need to keep saying this because it’s so insane: This is a legal U.S. resident who has been detained for over a month now for his political opinions.
nytimes.com
The Department of Homeland Security denied Mahmoud Khalil permission to attend the birth of his first child, who was delivered at a New York hospital on Monday, according to emails reviewed by The New York Times.
Mahmoud Khalil’s Son Arrives After ICE Refuses to Let Him Attend Birth
Mr. Khalil, a permanent resident detained in Louisiana, had requested a monitored furlough for the birth. His request was denied in less than an hour.
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Alex Abdo
jameeljaffer.bsky.social
100 years of First Amendment law is worth very little if it doesn’t foreclose the government from arresting, imprisoning, and expelling legal permanent residents on the basis of their lawful political speech.
phillewis.bsky.social
JENA, La. (AP) — Immigration judge rules that Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil can be deported.
alexabdo.bsky.social
At 9:30 ET, I’ll be arguing in the D.C. Circuit on behalf of @accountableorg.bsky.social in its challenge to the secrecy of OLC opinions.

OLC opinions set the law of the executive branch, but they’re usually kept secret.

Hoping we can change that today.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzft...
www.youtube.com