Update 3/14/2025:
I don’t know if this is new information period, or just new information to me. Either way, it defies words. The Trump family’s World Liberty Financial cryptocurrency venture, which 75 cents of every dollar paid goes straight to the Trump Family’s pockets, is in conversations over a deal with the US arm of Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange. This is the same company whose founder, Changpeng Zhao, is petitioning President Trump for a pardon for his part in the anti-money laundering case levied against Binance in 2023. They were convicted of laundering money for sanctioned entities like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hamas. The President of the United States of America, who is unconstitutionally detaining an American green card holder under the guise of being “sympathetic to Hamas”, is actively negotiating a deal with a company convicted of providing funds to Hamas.
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In the early night hours of March 8th, 2025 the democratic principles of freedom in the United States were dealt grievous, and potentially irrevocable, harm. Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holding permanent resident married to a US citizen, was arrested from his apartment by plainclothes ICE agents. He has not been charged with any crime, and to date there is no evidence to support that he has committed a crime at all. The only thing Mr. Khalil has done is to exercise his right as someone under the jurisdiction of the US Constitution to express his opinion. His right to free speech.
He was arrested because Donald Trump and his administration didn’t like what he was saying.
This is not a pro Palestine or pro Israel debate, which itself is a whole other destructive can of worms to open. Set all of that aside. This is a conversation about the First Amendment to the Constitution that has been held sacred for centuries in this country.
For reference, the First Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Mr. Khalil was arrested for leading a peaceful protest movement at Columbia University. This was a pro-Palestine protest that ran immediately counter to the staunchly pro-Israel establishment government. Again, this is not a discussion of that conflict, however it is important to understand the context of what is being used to justify the aggressively unconstitutional move by the Trump administration. For context, Miriam Adelson donated $100 Million to Trump’s 2024 campaign in exchange for assurances that he would support Israel’s desire to annex and take control of the West Bank. This is the same woman who has been quoted as saying that Trump deserves a “Book of Trump” in the Bible for his support of Israeli interests.
Mahmoud Khalil had the audacity to speak against those interests.
This must be seen as the proverbial act of “crossing the Rubicon”. This must be the point at which all Americans realize that their fundamental rights as citizens are under attack and stand up against it. The way in which free speech is codified in the US Constitution is a uniquely American ideal. The Founders and Framers saw the freedom of expression of any and all ideas, and the protection of the individual to do so, was so important that it led the Bill of Rights which specifically limited federal government power, judicial overreach, and insured personal rights and freedoms of the individual.
Before this is written off as unimportant because Mahmoud Khalil is “some foreign national political dissident” and “they would never do this to real citizens”, let us remember that the US constitution, and the rights afforded therein, apply to anyone and everyone that find themselves under its jurisdiction. This includes illegal or undocumented immigrants, to say nothing of a green card holding permanent resident.
On Tuesday March 11th, 2025, President Donald Trump used the Office of the President and the South Lawn of the White House to film a commercial for the richest man in the world and his recently struggling car brand. During this waste and abuse of government time and office, Trump said that boycotts of Tesla were illegal and anyone doing so was, and I quote, a “domestic terrorist”.
Does anyone want to guess what Mahmoud Khalil is being accused of despite the lack of any and all evidence?
“First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me”
– Pastor Martin Niemoller
Americans must set aside their politics, their racism, or any other belief they hold that creates separation and unite in one voice to vehemently defend their rights as citizens.
Mahmoud Khalil is being illegally detained for exercising his right to free speech in an effort to set precedent for arresting those individuals that disagree with the Trump administration writ large. Even if you don’t believe it is that serious, which I believe is incredibly naive and misguided, it is not a risk you should be willing to take.
Our literal freedom as individuals is at stake.
— The People. Of, By, and For
The People. Of, By, and For 
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