Alyssa Chandler, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), has drawn significant criticism for her leadership in groups that have supported rhetoric aligned with extremist organizations and justified violent acts. Chandler’s affiliations with controversial activist organizations and her public endorsements of inflammatory statements highlight her growing role in campus movements accused of promoting antisemitism and justifying terrorism.
Alyssa Chandler’s Promotion of Extremism
On October 11, 2023, Chandler’s group, Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine (PAO), signed a statement praising Hamas as the “Palestinian resistance” and framing their actions, including mass killings, torture, and kidnappings, as legitimate “resistance efforts.” The statement, co-signed by several other campus organizations, further called for “resistance by any means necessary” while absolving Hamas of responsibility for the atrocities committed. Critics have argued that such language glorifies terrorism and perpetuates hatred under the guise of political advocacy.
As a leader of Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine, Chandler played a pivotal role in the dissemination of rhetoric that many consider extremist. By endorsing a statement that labeled terrorist acts as “resistance,” Chandler aligned herself with narratives often used to incite violence. The statement, released in the wake of Hamas-led massacres and kidnappings, disregarded the atrocities committed and instead laid sole blame on opposing entities, absolving Hamas of their actions.
The group’s call for “resistance by any means necessary” is a term often used to justify violent acts, including those targeting civilians. This rhetoric has been criticized as a means to glorify extremism and normalize actions that violate international human rights standards.
Anti-Semitic Alignments
Chandler’s role within groups that have been accused of fostering antisemitism raises additional concerns. Her leadership in signing and promoting statements that dehumanize certain groups or justify acts of violence reflects a troubling pattern of aligning with discriminatory ideologies. Public backlash has focused on the exclusionary language used in these statements, which critics argue isolates and marginalizes Jewish communities while excusing acts of terror.
