Rhetoric and Composition Scholars/Teachers/Administrators/Students for Palestine
13 November 2023
We are concerned rhetoric and composition scholars/teachers/administrators/students witnessing with horror the unfolding of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza. We come together to grieve the unfathomable loss of life and annihilation of the living. We condemn the ongoing genocide in Palestine unequivocally. We reject the racist rhetoric/language used to dehumanize Palestinians and to minimize Palestinian suffering. We refuse to minimize Palestinian suffering. We refuse to disregard the value of Palestinian lives. We cherish Palestinian lives. We insist on cherishing Palestinian lives. We refuse to censor Palestinian voices and/or our own voices in support of Palestinians and for a free Palestine. We uphold the rights of Palestinians, and all oppressed peoples everywhere, to fight for freedom and self-determination. We support their struggles to be free of colonization, of occupation, of annexation. We support and amplify the calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We say no to this destructive war enabled by the US government and fueled by our tax dollars. We endorse the statements issued by Publishers for Palestine,  Writers Against the War in Gaza, Academics Against the Assault on Gaza, and A Liberatory Demand from Queers in Palestine, and join global solidarity efforts calling for the liberation of Palestine from a brutal occupation, now in its 75th year, and a lasting peace to Palestine and for Palestinians.

As scholars/teachers/administrators/students in a field attentive to the workings of language and power, we are outraged by the silence of professional organizations in our field that are typically quick to embrace discourses of justice, freedom, liberation, and decolonization in theory, but in practice are habitually silent on the question of Palestine and unwilling to support the decolonial struggles of indigenous Palestinians long under siege. Silence is complicity. We are aghast that our professional organizations are silent yet again, even now in the face of the unthinkable horrors being inflicted on the peoples of Palestine. At the same time as we condemn the genocide taking place in Palestine, call for an immediate permanent ceasefire in Gaza, demand that the US stop funding the Israeli genocidal apartheid project, denounce racist rhetoric/language dehumanizing Palestinians, reject the censoring/punishing of those who speak up for Palestine, support the decolonial freedom struggles for a liberated Palestine, we urge rhetoric and composition professional organizations such as the Conference on College Composition and Communication, Rhetoric Society of America, Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition, Council of Writing Program Administrators, and Modern Language Association to stand in solidarity with Palestine and Palestinians under occupation, speak up, take action.

Free Palestine!


(Please sign by completing the information below and share widely. Names of new signatories will be added periodically.)

(Rhetoricians of Critical Conscience has issued the Solidarity Statement: Who Has the Right to be Human? Everyone for Everyone that is open for signatures.)


Signatories (in alphabetical order):
  1. Abdirahman Hussein, Research Scholar, University of Hargeisa
  2. Aja Y. Martinez, Associate Professor, University of North Texas
  3. Alex Evans, Graduate Student
  4. Alex Helberg, Visiting Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Writing, Trinity College
  5. Alex Holguin, PhD Student, Communication, University of Pittsburgh
  6. Alexis Romero Walker, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies, Manhattanville College
  7. Aline Nguyen, Student
  8. Amber Kidd, PhD Candidate, Case Western Reserve University
  9. Amy Garrett Brown, PhD Student, Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English, University of Arizona
  10. Amy Hodges, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Arlington
  11. Ana Milena Ribero, Assistant Professor, Oregon State University
  12. Andrea Efthymiou, Associate Professor of English, Queens College, CUNY
  13. Andrea Olinger, Associate Professor of English, University of Louisville
  14. Aneil Rallin, Unaffiliated Scholar
  15. Angela Rounsaville, Associate Professor, University of Central Florida
  16. Anna Sophia Habib, Term Full Professor, George Mason University
  17. Anna D. Orazio, Graduate Student
  18. Anna Zeemont, Assistant Professor of English, SUNY Buffalo State
  19. Anthony Alessandrini, Professor, Kingsborough Community College
  20. Ashanka Kumari, Assistant Professor and Administrator
  21. Atacan Atakan, Lecturer, History, Sabanci University
  22. Ben Bishop, PhD Student, Department of Communication, University of Pittsburgh
  23. Bernadette Calafell, Professor, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Gonzaga University
  24. Bibhushana Poudyal, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Washington State University
  25. Brian Cope, Associate Professor
  26. Brooke Boling, Graduate Candidate, English Department, University of Cincinnati
  27. Brooke Hotez, Assistant Professor of English in Rhetoric and Composition, Utah Tech University
  28. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq, Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech
  29. Cara Marta Messina, Assistant Professor of English, Marist College
  30. Carrie Murawski, Assistant Professor, Department of English and Communication Studies, Roanoke College
  31. Carmen Kynard, Professor, Department of English, Texas Christian University
  32. Charles McMartin, Graduate Student
  33. Cheyanne Lozano, Graduate Student, Assistant Professor, Rhetoric, University of Texas at El Paso
  34. Chloe de los Reyes, Associate Professor, CHC
  35. Christie Toth, Associate Professor, University of Utah
  36. Christina V. Cedillo, Associate Professor, Communication and Studio Arts, University of Houston, Clear-Lake
  37. Clancy Ratliff, Professor, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  38. Conor Klerekoper, JD Candidate, University of Arizona
  39. Damián Baca, Associate Professor, Department of Mexican American Studies, University of Arizona
  40. Dan Libertz, Assistant Professor of English, Baruch College, CUNY
  41. David Palumbo-Liu, Louise Hewlett Nixon Professor and Professor of Comparative Literature, Stanford University
  42. Deanna Tomasin McCormick, Lecturer, Purdue University
  43. Derek M Sparby, Associate Professor, Illinois State University
  44. Desireé Thorpe, Graduate Student
  45. Dewi Azizah, Graduate Student
  46. Diana Hamilton, Director of the Writing Center, Baruch College, CUNY
  47. Dominic DelliCarpini, Past President, Council of Writing Program Administrators
  48. Elia Newsom, Teaching Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Boulder
  49. Elizabeth McNeil, Emerita Instructor, Languages and Cultures, Arizona State University
  50. Emad Hakim, Graduate PhD Student, Illinois State University
  51. Emily Pollard, Graduate Student, University of New Mexico
  52. Eric Baker, Graduate Student, University of Arizona
  53. Eric Darnell Pritchard, Associate Professor, University of Arkansas
  54. Erin Workman, Associate Professor of Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse, DePaul University
  55. Ethan Trejo, Graduate Student, Department of English, University of Southern California
  56. Eunjeong Lee, Assistant Professor
  57. Eurydice Dye, Lecturer, Department of English, Chapman University
  58. Faryha Salim, Student
  59. Francisco Tamayo, Professor, Chicana/o/x Studies, California State University, Northridge
  60. Frankie Condon, Associate Professor
  61. Gabriella Wilson, Graduate Student, Syracuse University
  62. Gavin Doyle, Graduate Student, English, Rhetoric and Composition, Washington State University
  63. Ghada Mourad, Lecturer
  64. Grace Von Lehman, Graduate Student, DePaul University
  65. Hamza Ahmad, Graduate Student, University of Washington
  66. Hana Masri, Lecturer, Marquette University
  67. Harriet Malinowitz, Retired Professor of English, Long Island University, Brooklyn
  68. Huma Iqbal, PhD Student, University of Arizona
  69. Ian Barnard, Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, Department of English, Chapman University
  70. Ira Shor, Professor Emeritus, CUNY
  71. Iris Ruiz, Lecturer, UC Merced
  72. James Daniel, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Seton Hall University
  73. Jan Osborn, Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, Department of English, Chapman University
  74. Jason Helms, Associate Professor, English, TCU
  75. Jay Jordan, Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Studies, University of Utah
  76. Jennifer Nish, Associate Professor, Humanities, Michigan Technological University
  77. Jesse Rice-Evans, Doctoral Candidate, CUNY
  78. Jessica McDermott, Associate Faculty, Riverside City College
  79. Jessica Shumake, Assistant Teaching Professor, University Writing Program and Gender Studies Program, Notre Dame University
  80. Jessie Male, Postdoctural Associate in Disability Studies, University of Pittsburgh
  81. Joanne Robielos, Unaffiliated Scholar/Writer
  82. John Trimbur, Emeritus Professor of Rhetoric and Writing Studies, Emerson University
  83. Jonathan Rosa, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Education, Stanford University
  84. Josh Barrows, Graduate Student
  85. Josh Miller, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies
  86. Karma R. Chávez, Professor, Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, University of Texas at Austin
  87. Karrieann Soto Vega, Assistant Professor, Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies, University of Kentucky
  88. Katerina Zakonova, Student
  89. Kelli R Gill, PhD Candidate, Texas Christian University
  90. Kelsey Hawkins, Graduate Student
  91. Kendra Atkin, Lecturer
  92. Kimberly Drake, Professor of Writing and Rhetoric, Scripps College
  93. Kirk Branch, Professor of English, Montana State University
  94. Kristi Wilson
  95. Kyllikki Rytov, Adjunct Professor, Northern Kentucky University
  96. Larry Morgan, Graduate Student, Syracuse University
  97. Lauren Brentnell, Assistant Director of the University Writing Center, Texas State University
  98. Lee Artz, Professor, Communication, Purdue University Northwest
  99. Liahnna Stanley, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and Indigenous Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  100. Logan Middleton, Teaching Assistant Professor, University of Denver
  101. Logan Smilges, Assistant Professor, English Language and Literatures, University of British Columbia
  102. Lou Maraj, Associate Professor, School of Journalism, Writing, and Media, University of British Columbia
  103. Lourdes Silva, Associate Professor of Writing, Ithaca College
  104. Lucie Heron, Graduate Student and Instructor, English Department, North Carolina State University
  105. Maggie Fernandes, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas
  106. Mandy Penney, Educational Developer
  107. Marissa Juarez, English Faculty, Central New Mexico Community College
  108. Matthew Abraham, University of Arizona
  109. Matthew Homer, English, Allen University
  110. Matthew Houdek, Senior Lecturer and First Year Writing Coordinator
  111. Matthew Parnell, Graduate Student, Penn State
  112. Megan McIntyre, Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas
  113. Miles Enriquez-Morales, Graduate Student
  114. Mina Farooqi, Graduate Student
  115. Mohamed Yacoub, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of English, Florida International University
  116. Montèz Jennings, PhD Student and Assistant Instructor in Rhetoric and Writing, University of Texas at Austin
  117. Morgan Banville, Assistant Professor of Humanities
  118. Morgan Carter, Graduate Student and Instructor, English Department, UNC Greensboro
  119. Nancy Welch, Professor Emerita of English, University of Vermont
  120. Nora Rivera, Assistant Professor, Chapman University
  121. Odin McDermott, Student, Rhetoric, Writing, and Public Discourse, Whitman College
  122. Olivia Rowland, PhD Student, Ohio State University
  123. Olivia Wood, Lecturer, City College of New York, CUNY
  124. Patty Wilde, Associate Professor of English, Washington State University Tri-Cities
  125. Paul Cook, Professor of English, Indiana University Kokomo
  126. Philip Choong, Assistant Professor, Department of Rhetoric and Language, University of San Francisco
  127. Pramila Ventakeswaran, Professor, English Department, Nassau Community College
  128. Pritha Prasad, Assistant Professor, English, University of Kansas
  129. Pritisha Shrestha, Student, Syracuse University
  130. Rachel Rys, Associate Director of the Writing Center, Baruch College
  131. Reina Ashley Nomura, Graduate Student, Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse, DePaul University
  132. Reslie Cortés, Assistant Professor, School of Communication, James Madison University
  133. Robert Eddy, Professor of English
  134. Romeo Garcia, Assistant Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Studies, University of Utah
  135. Ruth Osorio, Assistant Professor, English and Women's and Gender Studies, Old Dominion University
  136. Sara Baugh-Harris, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies, Davidson College
  137. Sara Doan, Assistant Professor of Experience Architecture, Writing, Rhetoric, and Cultures, Michigan State University
  138. Sarah Dweik, Graduate Student
  139. Sarah Moon, Assistant Professor
  140. Sarah Stanley, Associate Professor of English, University of Alaska Fairbanks
  141. Sethunya Mokoko, Assistant Professor, Writing and Rhetoric, University of Virginia
  142. Shui-yin Sharon Yam, Associate Professor, Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies, University of Kentucky
  143. Shyam Sharma, Associate Professor, Stony Brook University
  144. Silvia Ferreira, Associate Teaching Professor, University of Washington Bothell
  145. Sisanda Nkoala, Senior Lecturer, Department of Communication Science, University of South Africa
  146. Siskanna Naynaha, Associate Professor, Department of English, California State University, Dominguez Hills
  147. Soha Youssef, Assistant Professor of Writing and Rhetoric, Thomas Jefferson University
  148. Sophia Greco, Unaffiliated Teacher/Student
  149. Spencer Cooke, Assistant Director of Technical Writing and Communication, PhD Candidate, University of Oklahoma
  150. Stephanie Wade, Lecturer, Stony Brook University
  151. Suresh Canagarajah, Professor
  152. Susan Jarratt, Professor Emerita, Department of Comparative Literature, University of California, Irvine
  153. T. Rodriguez
  154. Tayva Anderson, Student, Rhetoric, Writing, and Public Discourse, Whitman College
  155. Tiffany Wong, Continuing Lecturer, Writing Program, University of California Santa Cruz
  156. Timothy Brennan, Professor, Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature, University of Minnesota
  157. Timothy Oleksiak, Associate Professor, English, University of Massachusetts Boston
  158. Toqa Hassan, Assistant Professor, Communication and Creative Arts, Purdue University Northwest
  159. Tom William, PhD, English Faculty
  160. Vanni Kannan, Associate Teaching Professor, Emory University
  161. Victor Villanueva, Retired Regents Professor
  162. Victoria Bello, Student, Communication Studies, Louisiana State University
  163. Vyshali Manivannan, Assistant Professor, Writing and Cultural Studies, Pace University, Pleasantville
  164. Walker Smith, Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, Goucher College
  165. Walter Lucken IV, Assistant Professor of English, Queens College, CUNY
  166. William Thelin, Professor of English, University of Akron
  167. Xiaobo Wang, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Sam Houston State University
  168. Yanira Rodriguez, Associate Professor of Writing and Journalism, West Chester University

(Update, 8 December 2023: This statement was emailed on 27 November 2023 to the 2023 Conference on College Composition and Communication Officers, Rhetoric Society of America Leadership and Board of Directors, Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition Executive Board Officers, Council of Writing Program Administrators Executive Board Members, and Modern Language Association Officers and Members of the Executive Council calling on these professional organizations to stand in solidarity with Palestine and Palestinians under occupation, speak up, take action.

  • CFSHRC President responded on 27 November 2023: “Thank you for this email. I appreciate you reaching out. The Executive Board has drafted an email that we've sent to the Advisory Board for their consideration and then will be shared if/as appropriate.”

  • RSA Executive Director responded on 27 November 2023: “Thank you for your email. RSA acknowledges receipt and the Board will discuss.”

  • MLA Executive Director responded on 27 November 2023: “Thank you for writing…As a policy, the MLA's Executive Council does not make statements about international political conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, the Hamas attack in Israel, the Israeli bombings in Gaza, or any of the many other areas of conflict in the world. Individual members of the Executive Council are free, of course, to respond in their individual capacity to your petition. MLA staff members are continuing to compile resources on how to defend students' and faculty members' right to free speech and protest on our campuses, and we will share them with members soon. We have, as you probably know, shared material on US legislative attempts to interfere on campuses and in syllabi. These are indeed very difficult times, in US higher education and around the world.” 

  • No response from CCCC and CWPA.)

(Update, 13 December 2023: RSA Executive Director sent an email: “The RSA Executive Committee conferred, and consulted with the full board. RSA will not be producing a statement at this time.”)

(Update, 22 December 2023: CFSHRC President on behalf of The Coalition Advisory Board shared the Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition Statement about Gaza and Israel on 19 December 2023.)

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