Jinan Chehade, a 26-year-old Muslim lawyer and graduate of Georgetown University Law School, claims she was denied a job due to her pro-Palestine social media posts and has filed a discrimination lawsuit.
Chehade, whose mother is Moroccan and father is Lebanese, grew up in Bridgeview, a Chicago suburb known as “Little Palestine” for its large Arab community.
Chehade explained that her upbringing in Bridgeview significantly influenced her identity and motivated her to attend law school.
“Growing up in a very politicized community, especially post-9/11, we were often demonized for being Muslim or Arab,” she said.
Since the age of five, Chehade has participated in protests against the situation in Gaza, which inspired her to pursue a career in law to effect change.
Chehade explained that after accepting a job offer at Foley & Lardner, a prominent US law firm, she was called in for an informational meeting just hours before her start date.
“Initially, I believed this would be an opportunity to discuss the situation in Gaza and express my concerns for my family in Lebanon and my extended family in Palestine and Gaza,” she said.
“Unfortunately, the meeting turned out to be quite hostile. They interrogated me about my social media posts related to Palestine, my advocacy efforts, and even my involvement with SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine). They also questioned me about my background and identity,” Chehade continued.
“So ultimately, they framed my advocacy for Palestine as supporting terrorism, which, as we know, is a very racist smear with no factual backing,” she added.
Chehade pointed out the double standard, noting that people who openly voice support for Israel do not face the same treatment.
She described the decision to withdraw the job offer as “devastating,” and explained:
“That’s when I decided to not only speak out but fight back and pursue a lawsuit. I wanted to set a precedent to show that these law firms cannot discriminate against us without accountability.
People who look like me and advocate for Palestine cannot be tossed aside simply for speaking up for human rights.”
Chehade pursued her discrimination case against the law firm in federal court, stating, “I have no regrets about speaking up for Palestine or advocating the way I did.
“Especially in these times, silence is complicity and they try to silence us.”
She added, “I hope we get justice and ensure that other attorneys or law students who want to speak up for their beliefs or their families are not fired and discriminated against in this way.
“Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we are on the front lines of speaking out against this genocide. Everyone has a role, and we all need to be vocal about what’s happening in Palestine. We can’t give in to this fear-mongering,” she concluded.
Since this spring, there has been a rapid spread of pro-Palestine protests on US campuses, sparking complaints about discrimination and double standards against supporters of the Palestinian cause.
This trend, observed both inside and outside academia, highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the issue.
In the wake of Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has faced significant international condemnation for its relentless offensive in Gaza.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, the violence persists, drawing widespread criticism.
Local health authorities report staggering casualties in Gaza, with over 37,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, killed since the conflict began.
Additionally, nearly 85,000 others have been injured, underscoring the devastating toll of the ongoing hostilities.
After eight months of conflict, large parts of Gaza are left devastated, compounded by a blockade limiting access to vital resources like food, water, and medicine.
Accusations of genocide against Israel have reached the International Court of Justice. In a recent ruling, the court demanded Tel Aviv to halt its operations in Rafah, a southern city where over a million Palestinians sought shelter from the ongoing war.
Israeli forces invaded Rafah on May 6, worsening the situation for the already displaced population.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Biden’s son Hunter convicted of all charges in gun case