the West Coast decreased, Chicago emerged as the new hub for anti-Israel activism. Alongside
a surge in BDS activity, Chicago-area campuses saw increases in anti-Israel lectures, cultural
events, film screenings, and theme weeks. By contrast, West Coast schools experienced significant declines in these areas, contributing to a 38 percent decrease in overall anti-Israel activity.
These changes reflect Chicago’s growing role as a center for anti-Israel activism. The city is
home to the headquarters of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), an organization that provides
financial, material, and programming support to SJP. In April 2016, Jonathan Schanzer, Vice
President of Research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, testified to Congress
regarding AMP’s influential role in the campus movement, calling it “the most visible arm of the
BDS campaign on campuses in the United States.”7 AMP is linked to a robust network of Chicago-based detractors, including the U.S. Coalition to Boycott Israel, the BDS Campaign in Chicago,
the Chicago Coalition for Justice in Palestine, and elements of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Through connections to these groups, AMP has transformed Chicago’s campuses into
hubs of anti-Israel activity, encouraging and training students to attack Israel. Alongside AMP’s
expanding influence, anti-Israel activists are supported by a host of resources in the Chicago
area. Recognizing this strategic advantage, anti-Israel activists have re-focused on the Midwest,
working to strengthen their efforts in the region.
7.
http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA18/20160419/104817/HHRG-114-FA18-Wstate-SchanzerJ-20160419.pdf
8
www.israelcc.org