William Lafi Youmans

Leadership in Anti-Israel Campus Activism
William Lafi Youmans has played a leading role in advancing anti-Israel activism on campuses. He was a key figure in the early development of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), helping to organize the pivotal 2002 conference at UC Berkeley that shaped the group’s strategy and messaging. At George Washington University (GWU), Youmans has been a prominent leader of GWU-Faculty for Justice in Palestine (GWU-FSJP), participating in faculty protests and openly supporting encampment activities. In April 2024, he joined professors protesting for Palestine as part of GWU-FSJP, where police were present during demonstrations.

Participation in Pro-Hamas Encampments and Protests
On May 7, 2024, Youmans was a featured speaker at the GWU Gaza solidarity encampment during a rally for Rafah. He also signed an April 2024 open letter from faculty and staff across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region in support of the protests. His public comments at these events consistently amplified the encampment’s agenda, framing campus protest activity as legitimate resistance while ignoring the antisemitic harassment and intimidation of Jewish students that accompanied them.

Challenging Definitions of Antisemitism
In June 2023, Youmans took part in a session titled “Palestinian Activism under Attack” which directly criticized the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. This definition has been widely adopted in the U.S. and internationally as a standard for identifying contemporary antisemitism, including rhetoric targeting Israel. By opposing its use, Youmans positioned himself against efforts to protect Jewish students on campuses from antisemitic harassment cloaked in “activism.”

Promoting Anti-Israel Narratives in Academia and Media
Youmans has repeatedly used his academic platform to accuse Israel of genocide and to portray U.S. media coverage as biased in Israel’s favor. In March 2024, he published “Accounting for the Biases in U.S. Media Coverage of Gaza,” alleging that mainstream news outlets systematically downplayed Palestinian suffering while prioritizing Israeli narratives. In January 2024, he released “The Sunday Talk Shows on Gaza: A Study in Media Bias,” claiming that major U.S. networks excluded Palestinian perspectives and misrepresented the war. These publications mirror his long record of advocacy in media forums and university settings, where he frequently frames Israel as the aggressor and delegitimizes Jewish self-determination.

Longstanding Involvement in Anti-Israel Movements
Beyond GWU, Youmans has a history of involvement in anti-Israel networks. He served on the board of the Arab American Foundation (AAF), participated in multiple open letters attacking Israel’s military actions, and was a signatory to statements condemning Israel from faculty across the DC-Maryland-Virginia region. He has also been involved in cultural projects, including a documentary on Palestinian activist Alex Odeh, as well as his past work as a hip-hop artist “Iron Sheik,” where he used music to advance pro-Palestinian political messaging.

Conclusion
As both a faculty leader and an academic voice, William Lafi Youmans has consistently aligned himself with movements that excuse or promote anti-Israel extremism. From his early role in shaping SJP to his participation in encampments at GWU, he has worked to normalize antisemitic rhetoric under the guise of activism and scholarship. His influence on campus ensures that anti-Israel agitation is not only tolerated but actively endorsed by faculty members, worsening the environment for Jewish students.