Khalil Vasquez

Vasquez has advocated for violence, spread anti-Semitism, expressed support for terrorists and promoted anti-Israel agitators. He has also demonized Israel, called for the destruction of Israel and spread hatred of the United States.

In 2014, Vasquez was an activist with SJP at CCNY and a member of New York City SJP (NYC SJP). 

As of March 2021, Vasquez’s LinkedIn profile said he was a student at CUNY from 2009-2011. As of the same date, Vasquez’s Facebook page said he was a “laborer at local 79 at Laborers Local 79 - New York City” and that he studied Sociology at CCNY, starting in 2012.

In 2015, Vasquez was referred to as a “National Liaison” in the Liaison Committee for a New Communist Party (NCP LC). In November 2013, Vasquez was called a “student leader” with the Revolutionary Student Coordinating Committee (RSCC).

In October 2015, Vasquez attended the 2015 National SJP Conference in California.

Sexual Assault Controversy

In May 2016, Brown University SJP (Brown SJP) issued an online statement that publicly accused Vasquez and fellow SJP and RSCC activist Tafadar Sourov of being “perpetrators of sexual assault within affiliated groups.” A further condemnation was leveled at NYC SJP for remaining “silent in the face of these unforgivable acts,” calling for the group to be “barred and or castigated for their handling of this situation.” 

Brown SJP’s statement further detailed the accusations against Vasquez and Sourov: “These two representatives of NYC SJP were accused and found to be perpetrators of serious patriarchal behavior, including but not limited to abuse, manipulation and silencing.”

The statement continued: “While we do not know the specifics of their abuse within NYC SJP, these statements are corroborated by NCP LC and RSCC (two orgs these members were a part of) stating clearly that they were expelled and put on investigation and then that these two people planned to affectively [sic.] crash a gender struggle session to silence the survivors story.” 

The leadership of NYC SJP, identified as Neerdeen Kiswani and Rawan Toom, by SJP Brown in an earlier version of the statement, were also criticized for having “shown awful gender practice” and having “continuously ignored both the needs of the survivors…(in particular explicitly posting triggering content of the abuser and refusing to take it down when asked).”  

On May 18, 2016, Brown SJP attempted to distance itself from its earlier statement claiming it was “published without much discussion or input from the majority of our members.”

The statement further condemned the named leaders for explicitly silencing the victims and for actions showing “a disgusting disdain to the lives and opinions of these survivors’ as well as “a lack of responsibility, and a callous disregard for how these people use their “activist” credentials to influence and harm other people. The SJP Brown statement went on to state that “NYC SJP is complicit in rape culture.”

On May 4, 2016, Vasquez posted on Facebook that “...it seems like after this entire debacle every single problem has just been pinned on us... because that is how ideology works.”

Vasquez then complained of being tagged for “male leadership performing masculinity” and suffering unfair blame for “micro agressions in the community”just as “International Jewish bankers” being blamed for Germany’s defeat in World War I and other “problems stemming from the contradictions of capitalism…in 1930’s Germany.”

Arrests and Suspension  

On April 30, 2016, Vasquez recalled on Facebook how he was arrested on April 29, 2015 at a protest and charged with a felony. Vasquez was charged with assault, resisting arrest and two counts of disorderly conduct. 

In October 2013,Vasquez and fellow SJP and RSCC activist Tafadar Sourov were arrested for criminal mischief and then suspended and barred from the CUNY campus after participating in a protest over the closure of the Morales-Shakur Center in New York.  

Vasquez and Sourov were reportedly arraigned in Manhattan criminal court for rioting, inciting to riot, harassment and obstructing governmental administration. Sourov was also reportedly charged with attempted assault, for shoving CUNY police Corporal Jacqueline Meekins to the ground, injuring her shoulder.

In November 2013, the university ban against Vasquez and Sourov was reportedly lifted but the criminal charges remained in place. After a disciplinary hearing on November 8, 2013, Vasquez claimed [00:00:02] the two were suspended for “defending” the Morales-Shakur center and that they would keep fighting until they had [00:01:02] the “abolishment” of the Board of Trustees at CUNY.

Vasquez further alleged [00:01:10] that “the people who run CUNY are part of the same class of people that run the prison system… corporations, other businesses… and run the whole political process.” Sourov claimed [00:01:31]: “We are nothing but revolutionaries” and that “we are going to liberate CUNY for the people...we call for nothing less than revolution.”

Advocating Violence

On June 18, 2015, Vasquez promoted on Facebook an event organized by the NCP LC. The event’s Facebook description claimed that “the U.S. Is. White power imperialist state at war with Black, Latino and Muslim communities” and that “Black lives when organized are dangerous when fighting against the capitalist system.” 

Vasquez concluded in his post: “It is right to rebel against reactionaries! Arms Up, Shoot Back!”

Spreading Anti-Semitism

On July 2, 2015, Vasquez posted a graphic to Facebook with maps portraying Israel as devouring Canada, Australia, the United States and Germany piece by piece, over time from 1947 to the present. The maps were captioned “How would you feel?”

Vasquez commented: “Ridiculous how the example is hypothetically (::cough::hypocritically) applied” and then opined that Germany is “where a [sic] actual state for European Jews would only ever make sense.” Vasquez added the hashtags “#SettlerColonialismWhat? #Imperialism #Revolution.”

On August 12, 2014, Vasquez wrote on Facebook “... No amount of uncritical Black Nationalist or pan-africanist unity is going to unite all blacks when there are elites leading and benefiting from this genocide. Just like Zionist Jews during world war II who not only did nothing, but even collaborated with the Nazis as other Jews were disintegrated…”

The 1933 Havaara agreement between Zionist leaders and Nazi Germany permitted German Jews to escape Europe to Palestine. The agreement is often cited by anti-Semites to frame Zionists as Nazi collaborators.

On August 3, 2014, Vasquez posted a statement on Facebook from “Women Of Diverse Origins In Solidarity With Gaza.” 

Vasquez quoted from the statement, writing: “... To simply deal with recent rockets is to miss the point and to play into Zionist manipulations of the realities on the ground… At this point we must also smash the myth that criticism of Zionism and Israeli state policies are anti-Semitic.For too long this has been used to silence criticism of Zionist and Israeli occupation and repression…”

Vasquez continued: “...Just as we have been taught to appreciate the valor, heroism and courage of those who stood up to Nazi occupation and terror, like the Jewish inhabitants of the Warsaw ghetto who put up such a courageous fight against the Nazis, we should also appreciate the courage of Palestinians who are struggling to break free from the imprisonment of occupation.”


On July 14, 2014, Vasquez posted on Facebook: “Against Israel #3 If the West really wanted to dish out justice to European jews after the Holocaust, they would have gave [sic] reparations and land in Europe. (presumably Germany). You know, take away from the people WHO ACTUALLY Hurt them. There were a few places proposed, (Uganda and Madagascar even), but Palestine, was selected (pressure from the UK and US) because Israel would be an outpost for Western Imperialism in the middle east.”

On November 26, 2012, Vasquez shared an article from “Jews Against Zionism” titled: “Nazi Support of Zionism.”

Vasquez wrote: “Adolf Hitler & his Nazis Support Zionism. ‘Theodor Herzl (1860-1904), the founder of modern Zionism, recognized that anti-Semitism would further his cause, the creation of a separate state for Jews. To solve the Jewish Question, he maintained ‘we must, above all, make it an international political issue.’Herzl wrote that Zionism offered the world a welcome ‘final solution of the Jewish question.’In his ‘Diaries’, page 19, Herzl stated ‘Anti-Semites will become our surest friends, anti-Semitic countries our allies.’” 

Vasquez went on to claim: "Zionist Collaboration with the Nazis Zionism was supported by the German SS and Gestapo. Hitler himself personally supported Zionism.”

Supporting Terrorists

In May 2015, Vasquez participated [00:19:14] in an SJP NYC event, where he wore a t-shirt with a graphic of Leila Khaled holding an assault rifle. 

Khaled is a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and participated in the hijacking of TWA Flight 840 in 1969 and El Al Flight 219 in 1970. As of 2017, Khaled was a member of PFLP's Political Bureau.

Khaled has said that the second intifada failed because it was not violent enough, advocated for the use of children in terror activities and compared Zionists to Nazis.

The PFLP claimed credit for the 2014 Har Nof Massacre where six people were murdered during morning prayers in a Jerusalem synagogue. The PFLP also claimed credit for the 2001 assassination of the Israeli tourism minister. 

The May 2015 SJP NYC event was titled: “The One State Solution.” 

The “one-state solution” has been denounced from the Right and the Left as a scheme to dissolve Israel as the Jewish State. 

At the event Vasquez spoke and idealized [00:27:52] the Algerian model and lauded the National Liberation Front (FLN), which was reportedly responsible for killing more than 16,000 Algerian civilians killed and the “disappearance” of over 13,000 between 1954 and 1962.] After the ceasefire of 19 March 1962, the FLN is believed to have massacred between 60,000 and 70,000 harkis, Muslim Algerians who had served in the French army.

Vasquez also [00:30:37] denied the legitimacy of Jews returning to Israel “after 2000 years” as well as [00:29:54] the Zionist history of Ethiopian and Mizrachi Jews. Vasquez went on [00:32:30] to declare that the “remedy” to Israel’s existence, which he defined as “settler colonialism,” was “national liberation.” Vasquez aso suggested [00:29:05] that as a result of the process of national liberation, the Israeli Jews would eventually be driven out.

 
On September 15, 2014, Vasquez shared an article to Facebook from +972 magazine featuring an interview with Khaled and commented: “Long Live Leila Khaled and the Palestinian Struggle till Victory!”

Vasquez commented: “‘BDS, of course, on the international level it is very effective. But it doesn’t liberate, it doesn’t liberate land. If there’s BDS all over the world, and the people are not resisting, there will be no change…if they were not holding arms it may have affected them politically, but it would not have liberated, not on the ground.”

On November 18, 2014, Vasquez featured in an Instagram photo posted by the RSCC promoting an SJP event in support of Rasmea Odeh. The photo caption read: “RSCC member, Khalil, speaking at the action this past weekens (sic) for Rasmea Odeh.”

Odeh was a key military operative [00:02:08]with the terrorist group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). In 1969, Odeh masterminded a PFLP bombing that killed two college students in a Jerusalem supermarket. Odeh also attempted to bomb the British consulate. 

Odeh confessed, in a highly detailed account, the day following her arrest. In a 2004 documentary, one of Odeh’s co-conspirators directly implicated [00:10:53] Odeh as the mastermind. 

In 1970, an Israeli court tried and convicted Odeh for her involvement in both bombings and sentenced her to life imprisonment. However, Odeh was released 10 years later, in a prisoner swap and emigrated to the United States.

On November 10, 2014, a Michigan federal jury convicted Odeh for immigration fraud because she failed to disclose her prior conviction and life sentence on her immigration application. On March 12, 2015, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison. 

In 2017, after an appeal and a lengthy court battle, Odeh admitted to immigration fraud, was stripped of her U.S. citizenship, deported to Jordan and banned from re-entering the U.S.

On November 10, 2014, Vasquez posted an article to Facebook titled: “If Rasmea Odeh is Guilty, We are all Guilty!” and wrote: “The only thing Rasmea is guilty of is existing as an oppressed person. If her rights and citizenship can be taken away because her existence is proof of the crimes of Israel’s terroristic existence, then it can be done to all of us. The imperialist state is always ready to break its own rules to keep this white supremacist, patriarchal, capitalist society running- it will not hesitate to brand Rasmea Odeh guilty...”

On July 14, 2014, during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge (OPE) against Hamas, Vasquez shared an article to Facebook called: “Israeli navy seals landing fails in Northern Gaza Strip” and wrote: “Al Qassam brigades, the military wing of Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), countered an attempt to land a special Israeli force northern Gaza City near Sodania beach.”

Israel commenced Operation Protective Edge (OPE) in July 2014, to stop rocket fire targeting Israeli civilians and to destroy Hamas attack tunnels.  

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades is the military wing of Hamas.

Vasquez continued: “It is worth mentioning that Gaza Strip undergoes a barbaric military operation called ‘Protective Edge’ launched 6 days ago by the Israeli army under the pretext of stopping Hamas rockets, and revenging [sic] for the kidnap and killing of 3 Zionist settlers in June 2014."

Hamas was responsible for the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers from a bus stop on June 12, 2014. The abducted boys were murdered by their captors, and their bodies were found buried in Palestinian-controlled territory on June 30, 2014.

Promoting Anti-Israel Agitators

On December 28, 2017, Vasquez posted an article from AJE on Facebook titled: “Why is the West praising Malala, but ignoring Ahed?”

Vasquez wrote: “Ahed's plight should prompt us to interrogate our selective humanitarianism. Individuals who are victims of state violence, whose activism unveils the viciousness of power, or whose rights advocacy centres communal care, deserve to be included in our vision of justice.”


On February 17, 2015, Vasquez featured in an Instagram photo posted by the RSCC promoting an SJP event at Hunter College. The photo caption read: “After the Youth in Revolt panel at Hunter College. Free Lina Khattab!”

Khattab was detained on December 13, 2014, and sentenced to six months jail time on February 16, 2015 for throwing rocks, while celebrating the 47th anniversary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)’s founding.  

Denying Jewish Connection to Israel

In May 2015, Vasquez chaired a panel discussion alongside anti-Israel activists Dan Cione, Nerdeen Kiswani and Leena Widdi, titled: "Critical Perspectives on Palestine: Revitalizing a One State Solution."

Vasquez questioned [00:30:30] “the claim that 2,000 years ago Jews occupied the land of Israel- well, I don’t know” and disparaged Jews’ return to Israel.

The political effort to deny Jewish history in Israel works to delegitimize restored Jewish sovereignty, attack Israel’s legitimacy and portray Jews as foreign to the Land of Israel.

Vasquez also claimed [00:24:58] that Palestinians were the majority population in Israel. As of November 2020, Arabs made up roughly 20% of the citizenry of Israel, including those who identify as “Palestinian Arab.”

Vasquez also referred [00:19:50] to Israel as “a settler-colonial entity” and suggested [00:23:27] that a two-state solution would allow Israel “to make war against Palestinians.” He also said [00:23:50] that in a one-state solution: “Israel can no longer exist” and insisted [00:24:14] that with a two-state solution Israel would still carry out “genocide.”

On October 6, 2014, Vasquez shared a graphic on Facebook from the page “I Acknowledge Apartheid Exists.” The graphic featured a map of England, with the word England crossed out and replaced with “Rome.” Text on the graphic said: “The Romans occupied England for more than 350 years...Don’t like this logic? Ask the Palestinians how they feel.”

Vaquez wrote: “Likewise Algeria was occupied for more than 130 years by French settler-colonialism, yet National Liberation did not settle for a '2 state solution'. Israel is a Settler-Colonial State . . . Meaning its [sic] ALL Occupied Palestine!”

On July 12, 2014, Vasquez wrote on Facebook: “#AgainstIsrael #1. You know Muslims once dominated what is Spain and Portugal today for almost 1000 years. Can you imagine if Muslims in Indonesia, traveled to Spain, settled there and set up a new Caliphate and killed and exiled the Spanish. This is kinda what israel is like.”

Demonizing Israel

On March 2, 2015, Vasquez posted an article on Facebook from RT.com which discussed Israel receiving U.S. military aid and wrote: “Israeli settler colonialism sustained by the settler colonial imperial daddy.”

On July 31, 2014, Vasquez posted on Facebook that “Israelis are going to go into history books as some of the most vicious. Up there with Columbus, colonial-settlers, and Slave masters in the entire history of people, Nazi's and those whose hate and insensibility have been referenced by nihilists and misanthropists [sic].”

On July 14, 2014, Vasquez shared the lyrics of a song called “Free Palestine” on Facebook. Lyrics included: "...How many more children have to be annihilated, Israel is a terror state, there terrorists that terrorise...This is not a war, it is systematic genocide.”

On July 11, 2014, Vasquez wrote on Facebook: “But will Israel stop the genocide? No. Violence against Palestinians is the very basis of Israel’s existence...We uphold the right of Palestinians to defend themselves against racist attacks by the settler colonial, genocidal state of Israel.”

On May 15, 2013, Vasquez posted a graphic to Facebook with a fabricated quote from Albert Einstein that said: “My name is Albert Einstein and I acknowledge that apartheid exists.”

Vasquez wrote: “Einstein is a Genius;and Geniuses don't Support Settler-Colonial Zionist entities like Israel. But to the Contrary the recognize the TERRORIST Nature of the existence of that state.”

Again on May 15, 2013, Vasquez wrote on Facebook: “Remembering Nakba Day 'Day of Catastrophe' (May 15, 1948) when the state of Israel was founded, resulting in the systematic dispossession and ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Palestinian population.”

The term “Nakba” is generally translated as “catastrophe” in Arabic, referring to the outcome of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It is a term often used to delegitimize the creation of the State of Israel by defining it as a catastrophe.

Vasquez continued: “Never forget the Role of American and British Imperialism in the Destruction and Neo-colonial relations in the Arab world. There is no Israel: Only the Settler-Colonial Zionist Entity that Occupies Palestine! FREEPALESTINE#.”

On November 21, 2012, during Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense (OPE), Vasquez wrote on Facebook: “Obviously I am being somewhat facetious because I actually would not think that the events currently unfolding in Gaza would cause your average rugged zionist very much shame. Neo-nazis, after all, do not feel any shame when their racist violence is broadcasted; they are just, in their own despicable way, honestly proud about their racism. The same goes for committed IDF soldiers who are shamelessly tweeting about ethnic cleansing…”

Israel launched OPD to stop Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli civilians from Gaza. Over the course of eight days in November 2012, Palestinian terrorist groups fired more than 1,500 rockets at Israel. The majority struck Israel, damaging homes, schools and other civilian areas. Human Rights Watch noted: “Palestinian armed groups made clear in their statements that harming civilians was their aim.”

Calling for the Destruction of Israel

On July 31, 2014, Vasquez posted on Facebook: “Israeli's show their true fascist colors. listen to them insinuate genocide of all the Arabs. Israel must be defeated and destroyed.”

On July 29, 2014, Vasquez posted a photo to Facebook of “a young Jewish woman” at a Gaza solidarity protest holding a sign that said “Not in my name. Another Jew saying ‘End the Bombing of Gaza.’”

Vasquez wrote: “another jew in support, but it having no impact. its good to ideologically struggle, but overthrowing the US is what really is going to deal the death blow to Israeli Zionist occupation.”

On July 14, 2014, Vasquez wrote on Facebook: “Presenting Hamas and IDF violence on the same par. is a farce...BUT the real question is WHETHER ISRAEL SHOULD EXIST IN THE FIRST PLACE. Israel a settler-colonial state as an outpost for the West in the Middle-east [sic] is by its existence exploiting the Palestinians and Arabs as a whole… What were they doing there in the first place? There is no Israel, its all Occupied Palestine.”

Spreading Hatred of Israel

In August 2015, Vasquez spoke at a rally, saying [00:03:36]:"Let it be known that CUNY is run by Zionists" and "our struggle to liberate CUNY for the people is a struggle against Zionism." He also stated that [00:02:47] "fighting the U.S is fighting Israeli Zionism."

On May 13, 2015, Vasquez posted on Facebook: “The highest points of politics are when there is the most clarity on who the enemy is. Many try to obscure this clarity in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by making it a religious conflict. THey make not metions [sic] of the palestinians christians who foguht[sc] israeli domination. They make no mention that after the king crane report most jews in Palestine also did not want to see a jewish state. The enemy is the zionism.”

On October 20, 2014, Vasquez promoted an anti-Israel event at his college on Facebook. He wrote: “The Zionist occupation of Palestine is terrorism. The settler-colonialism of the Israeli regime is a genocide for those non-jews living under their rule.”

Vasquez continued: “Come out this thursday to understand the history of Zionism. Come learn about the Genealogy of Zionism where it all started and its role in the Imperialist dominated world today, DATE: THURSDAY October 23rd 12:30pm LOCATION: NAC 1/211.”

Spreading Hatred of America

On June 26, 2015, Vasquez wrote on Facebook: “I also hate it when petty bourgeois white&PoC think its extreme when I compare the U.S. Amerikkkan empire to the Nazis. Not only did the Nazis learn master race and manifest destiny...but more importantly the U.S. has surpassed the nazi attempt at hegemony of top dog western imperialist. The U.S. Empire in the 21st century is the 4th reich.”

The term “Amerikkka” uses the initials of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) as a way to demonize America as “fascist or racist.”  

On June 23, 2015, Vasquez wrote on Facebook: “Why just burn the confederate flag? Why not burn the US flag which has killed much more people, Black, Latino, Muslim, indigenous, etc,etc. Why not burn the flag which represents the white power imperialism we need to fight TODAY.” Vasquez continued: “Oh, because ya'll not really tryna fight the systemic source of genocide, but make a spectacle out of one small section of the enemies' ranks.”

On July 17, 2014, Vasquez shared an event on Facebook called: “Emergency Protest: Stop The War on Children! From Gaza to U.S./Mexico Border.”

Vasquez wrote: “The Oppression and killings of immigrants from Latin American nations on the US-Mexico Border is not the same as the occupation of Palestine by Israel. But the Unity of Israeli Zionist Colonialism and US Imperialism gives us a common enemy to overthrow on our path to Liberation! Down With US Imperialism and Israeli Settler-colonialism!”

On February 9, 2012, Vasquez posted a photo to Facebook and wrote:“Liberals Don't Believe me, Or Take it Serious when We Compare the Amerikkan Empire to the Nazi's. But **ck them We Know the Truth. Nazi Marines!”

SJP

SJP is a student organization engaged in anti-Israel activity on North American college and university campuses.

The first chapter of SJP was founded in 2001 at the University of California at Berkeley by Professor Hatem Bazian. Bazian has spread classic anti-Semitism, reportedly promoted religious anti-Semitism and defended the Hamas terror group. In 2004, Bazian called for “intifada” in America.

SJP organizes anti-Israel campaigns, including running annual Israel Apartheid Weeks, often in collaboration with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Muslim Students Association (MSA) campus chapters.

SJP has been a major force in pushing the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement on campuses. Chapters have initiated dozens of BDS resolutions in student governments, which have been proposed on or around Jewish holidays, a time when many Jewish students are off-campus.

SJP activists have reportedly physically assaulted, intimidated and harassed Jewish students, disrupted pro-Israel campus events and demonized pro-Israel campus organizations.

Chapters have often endorsed and campaigned for numerous terrorists and whitewashed terrorism.

Social Media and Weblinks