Phillip Agnew
Overview
Phillip Agnew [Umi Selah] promoted a children’s curriculum that glorified violence and praised the terrorist organization the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). He has also promoted violence, spread hatred of Israel and is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.On March 7, 2020, Agnew tweeted that he joined the presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders as a “senior advisor.” As of March 2020, Agnew’s Instagram page said he was also a “national surrogate” for the Sanders campaign.
As of March 2020, Agnew was listed on the website of The Dream Defenders (DD) as the group’s “co-founder” and “co-director.” In 2015, Agnew participated in a pro-BDS trip to Israel with DD.
As of March 2020, Agnew’s Facebook page said he was the “Director” of DD from April 2012 to November 2018. Also as of March 2020 Agnew listed himself on Facebook as “Self-Employed.”
Children’s Curriculum Glorifying Violence
On March 10, 2016, Agnew promoted on Facebook a DD educational series marketed towards sixth to eleventh graders [p1]. The DD curriculum, titled “Blacked Out History - Rebellion Curriculum Toolkit,” glorified [p.6] violence and featured [p.25-26] the PFLP among nine other organizations.The PFLP — designated a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada, Israel, the European Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council and Australia — pioneered aircraft hijackings to draw attention to their movement’s demands, most notably with the capture of an Air France plane in 1976.
The hijackers flew the plane to Entebbe, Uganda, where they separated nearly 100 Jewish passengers from the others and threatened to execute one Jew per hour. Israel, however, launched a successful commando raid to rescue the hostages.
The PFLP also claimed “credit” for the November 18, 2014 Har Nof Synagogue massacre — where PFLP operatives murdered six people with a gun, axes and a butcher knife during morning prayers. PFLP Gaza leader Hani Thawbta stated: “We declare full responsibility of the PFLP for the execution of this heroic operation..."
In his March 10, 2016 Facebook post, Agnew wrote regarding the curriculum: “Dream Defenders facilitated a cultural education project focused on revolutionary organizations from around the world to highlight their elements of rebellion… This curriculum was crafted to be made available to teachers, after school programs and youth organizers.”
One of the curriculum’s “Lesson” sheets included a section on “Vocabulary” for students, in which “struggle” was defined [p.6] as “forceful or violent efforts to get free of restraint or constriction.”
In its section featuring the PFLP, among the “Key Points” listed [p.25] was: “The PFLP aims to liberate all of Palestine by establishing a democratic socialist Palestinian state that includes the destruction of zionism and the return of the Palestinian refugees to their homeland.”
Zionism is the belief that Jews have the right to self-determination in their own national home, and the right to develop their national culture.
The PFLP section highlighted [p.25] the group’s desire for the “destruction of Israel” and their “hijackings, assassinations, car bombings, suicide bombings, paramilitary operations against civilian and military targets.”
The PFLP section concluded [p. 26]: “they want to be free from global imperialism. They want liberation. They want equal rights. Just like the Dream Defenders.”
Promoting Violence
On August 17, 2014, Agnew posted on Facebook: “yes, #thankyouferguson for your Molotov.” His comment was a reference to protesters in Ferguson, Missouri throwing Molotov cocktails during violent clashes with police.On November 26, 2014, Agnew declared on Facebook: “I am not an activist. I am a militant.”
Spreading Hatred of Israel
On October 29, 2018, Agnew tweeted accusing the “Israel GOVERNMENT”of “ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”On August 30, 2016, Agnew tweeted: “The Genocide of the Palestinian People: An International Law and Human Rights Perspective.” His tweet linked to a Center For Constitutional Rights (CCR) report, with the same title as Agnew’s tweet.
On August 7, 2016, Agnew shared a DD blog post doubling down on the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) Platform’s suggestion that Israel committed “genocide… against the Palestinian People.”
The DD blog post Agnew shared said: “What is happening in Palestine is a genocide and we will not allow anyone to bully us into sanitizing our words.” The blog post also promoted BDS and accused Israel of practicing “white supremacy,” “apartheid” and “ethnic cleansing.”
On June 1, 2015, Agnew published an article in Ebony, where he called Zionism a “racist, exploitative, and exclusionary ideology” with a desire for “ethnic purity.” Agnew also implied that Israel was not the homeland of the Jewish people.
On November 15, 2012, Agnew tweeted: “America continues to support the murderous occupation of Palestine.Today's ‘Zion’ is Hell on Earth for millions…” His tweet came during Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense (OPD) against Hamas, on a day where three Israeli civilians were killed by a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip.
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.”
On October 11, 2012, Agnew tweeted: “Let's talk about American supported apartheid in Israel. #changethedebate.”
Supporting BDS
On August 10, 2016, Agnew shared a BDS Movement Facebook post which linked to a BDS National Committee (BNC) statement demonizing Israel and endorsing the M4BL Policy Platform.The BNC statement accused Israel of implementing an “incremental genocide” and of having a “regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid.”
On December 23, 2014, Agnew wrote on Facebook: “hol up wait a minute. y'all thought we was finished? #squadup14. #dreamdefenders #bds #handsoffassata …”
On September 26, 2014, Agnew wrote on Instagram: “proud to bring #bds to #cbcfalc2014. thank you @sjpnational @thedreamdefenders.” The hashtag “#cbcfalc2014” was used for the 2014 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference.
Agnew’s post included a photo of a slide presentation with a title slide that said: “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions - A Grassroots Initiative for Palestine.”
In August 2016, BDS leader Ilan Pappé admitted that BDS was not initiated by a “call” from Palestinian civil society; rather, it was initiated by a small number of radical anti-Israel extremists.
On August 9, 2014, Agnew wrote on Instagram: “drank my very last #cocacola last week. you should too. #boycottCoke #BDS #FreeGaza #freePalestine.” He included an image of an artillery shell labeled as a Coca Cola bottle, with the slogan above: “Don’t buy your brother’s blood - BOYCOTT Coca Cola.”
On February 19, 2013, Agnew tweeted: “US #Palestine #Solidarity activists: get legal help, report repression at http://PalestineLegalSupport.org, call 312-212-0448. #BDS #IAW.”
Pro-BDS Trip to Israel
In January 2015, Agnew participated [00:00:17] in DD’s first pro-BDS trip to Israel, which was led by DD co-founder Ahmad Abuznaid. Abuznaid said the trip was meant “to build real relationships with those on the ground leading the fight for liberation.” Abuznaid led another DD trip to Israel in May 2016.On April 24, 2016, Abuznaid said [00:12:22] in a Youtube video that the 2015 DD delegation met with the group Addameer while in Ramallah.
On January 5, 2015, Abuznaid tweeted: “Meeting with one of the founders of the BDS movement, Omar Barghouti. #DDPalestine #FreePalestine #BDS...”
Barghouti, co-founder of the BDS movement, rejects the existence of Israel.
Barghouti falsely claimed that the demand that all Palestinian refugees be allowed to settle in Israel is a "right" under international law, and further asserted that the demands of BDS are “inflexible” and “non-negotiable” — and if people object then “tough.”
Barghouti also accusedIsrael of "colonizing the minds of Palestinians" by (temporarily) shutting down Palestinian educational institutions — particularly Birzeit University — whose militant student body was involvedin riots and terror activity during the first Intifada and later remained ridden with terrorists. Barghouti omitted that under Israeli occupation five Arab universities and 70 teaching colleges were created on the West Bank, between 1967 and 1987 alone; none were permitted when the area was under Jordanian rule before 1967.
In January of 2016, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) swept Birzeit, seizing weapons stockpiles and Hamas propaganda. The university administration echoed Barghouti’s claims, characterizing the sweep as a "belligerent ... attack on the university and our right to education and all the principles involved in the freedom of education."
Barghouti also condemned Israel for shutting down other educational institutions, like kindergartens and high schools, which were also used to educate children to hate Israeli Jews — and become suicide bombers.
Barghouti also falsely claimed that Israel is guilty of Apartheid towards its Arab citizens.
Former Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) spokesperson Diana Buttu served in the PLO during the second intifada when the PLO, under the auspices of Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, carried out terror attacks and suicide bombings against Israeli civilians.
On January 5, 2015, DD published a photo to Flickr showing Buttu and other women on the trip in front of a mural honoring terrorist Marwan Barghouti.
Marwan Barghouti is currently serving five consecutive life sentences for his role in suicide bombings and shooting attacks that killed five Israelis during the second intifada.
Barghouti led the Palestinian Authority (PA) terrorist Tanzim force and founded the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. He also financed the guitar-case bomb used in the Sbarro Cafe massacre, where 15 civilians were killed and 130 injured.
On January 6, 2015, DD published a Flickr photo of delegations with artist Ayed Arafah in the Dheisheh Refugee Camp, a PFLP stronghold. Arafah has produced art honoring PFLP leader Ghassan Kanafani and PFLP terrorist Moataz Zawahreh.
On January 13, 2015, DD published a Vimeo video showing [00:00:12] Agnew and the DD delegation calling [00:00:07] for BDS in Nazareth, a city in northern Israel.
Dream Defenders
Based in Florida, DD was founded in 2012 and aims to create a "new generation" of organizers working to end domestic and foreign wars, free public education, community control of economic resources, release of prisoners from American prisons and an end to the Capitalist system in the United States.
The group later adopted a harsh anti-Israel position, falsely linking Israel’s existence to the same Capitalist system they view as responsible for the issues their communities face. DD has led several delegations to Israel and where they met exclusively with anti-Israel groups and individuals, including militants from the terrorist organization PFLP.
DD is a project (page 3) of the Tides Center, linked to anti-Israel billionaire George Soros and is a leading organization within the Black Lives Matter (BLM)movement that was founded in 2013.
DD has supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement as early December 2014.
BDS
The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement was founded by Omar Barghouti in 2005 to challenge “international support for Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism.” BDS is an allegedly “Palestinian-led movement,” although leading BDS activists have admitted [00:01:01] this is not true.
One of the demands of BDS includes [point 3] what is generally known as the “right of return,” a demand discredited as a way to eliminate Israel. Barghouti said the “right of return” is a means to “end Israel’s existence as a Jewish state.”
Barghouti has said that BDS “aims to turn Israel into a pariah state, as South Africa once was.”
In his activism, Barghouti has also said [00:05:55] regarding Israel: “Definitely, most definitely, we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No…rational Palestinian, not a sellout Palestinian, will ever accept a Jewish state in Palestine.”
The movement has been linked to numerous terrorist organizations and received a public endorsement from Hamas in 2017.
BDS initiatives include calling on institutions and individuals to divest from Israeli-affiliated companies, promoting academic and cultural boycotts of Israel, and organizing anti-Israel rallies, protests and campaigns.
The movement’s most notable achievement has been the infiltration of university campuses through lobbying for ��BDS resolutions.” In these cases, student governments and student groups, backed by their own anti-Israel members and affiliates, have proposed resolutions on some form of boycott of, or divestment from, Israel and Israeli-affiliated entities.
Boycott resolutions, although non-binding, have been passed by student governments on numerous North American campuses.
BDS activity is often aggressive and disruptive. It has been noted that universities that pass BDS resolutions see a marked increase in anti-Semitic incidents on campus. On one campus, when the student government debated a BDS resolution, reports emerged of violent threats against those opposing it.
Social Media and Weblinks
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/45000595/Twitter:https://twitter.com/iPhilSomething
https://twitter.com/PhilofDDreams [Deleted]
https://twitter.com/Umiselah [Deleted]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philsomething/
https://www.instagram.com/umiselah/ [Deleted]
- Status:
- Professional
- University:
- Organizations:
- BDS,
- DD
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- Steve Pargett,
- Jonel Edwards,
- Nyle Fort,
- Rachel Gilmer,
- Ciara Taylor,
- Kimberly Gonzalez,
- Maria Castro,
- Janaya Khan,
- Steven Gilliam,
- Didier Ortiz,
- Ahmad Abuznaid,
- Last Modified:
- 06/23/2025
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