Aisha Chughtai

As of November 2024, Aisha Chughtai was listed online as a PhD/MPH [master of public health] candidate at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), studying medical anthropology and global health studies. However, the same link indicated that she was slated to graduate in 2023. Penn is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

On October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas terrorists murdered nearly 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped hundreds more, anti-Israel groups in Philadelphia held an “Emergency Solidarity Rally.” Chants during the march to the rally featured various calls for Israel’s destruction and celebrations of Hamas terrorism by using the euphemism “resistance.”

At the rally, activist Romance Albarqawi said during her speech: “What we saw yesterday morning was decolonization taking place!” The crowd cheered in response to this line as well as after another line when she said: “The resistance is justified!” Workers World Party activist Michael Wilson later said: “I think that we should all give an applaud right now to Hamas for a job well done!” The crowd again cheered in response.  

Susan Abulhawa, one of the speakers, promoted [00:09:18] hatred of America and the crowd shouted in support. She later called [00:15:09] for civil unrest and was met with multiple cheers: “This is a class war and we are coming for them! Do not stop taking to the streets! Find ways to block commerce! Find ways to block this imperial consuming polluting killing machine! And be prepared to take risks! Be prepared to get arrested and if you’re not prepared to do that, give money to the organizations who support those who are willing to risk it!”