Krystal Strong is an academic and “activist” whose outspoken support for Hamas and controversial rhetoric have drawn significant criticism. On October 7, 2023, the day of Hamas’s terror attacks on innocent men, women and children, Strong tweeted in apparent support, calling for the liberation of Palestine. Her comments came amidst a massacre that left over 1,200 Israelis dead, including acts of mass murder, rape, and kidnappings, sparking accusations that she justified violence and terror. Strong has been repeatedly criticized for using inflammatory language, equating Zionism with white supremacy, and vilifying Jewish self-determination.
Krystal Strong’s Support for Hamas
Strong participated in multiple pro-Hamas rallies, including a December 3, 2023, event titled “Flood Philly for Gaza,” where she declared that “Zionism and white supremacy are one and the same” and called for escalating protests. At another rally on October 8, 2023, she praised Hamas’s actions, referring to the destruction of Jews as a moment of liberation akin to domestic protests in the U.S. Her statements at these rallies, alongside chants of “Intifada, revolution!” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” have been denounced as advocating violence and erasing Israel’s existence.
Strong’s History of Extremism
As a founder of the activist group Police Free Penn, Strong signed a statement in October 2023 that described Hamas’s atrocities as “resistance efforts” and justified their violence as acts of liberation. Her involvement with such groups has fueled criticism from detractors who argue her rhetoric fosters antisemitism and creates a hostile environment for Jewish students. Despite backlash, Strong remains active in grassroots movements, including Black Lives Matter Philly and the Coalition to Save the UC Townhomes.
Professionally, Strong is an assistant professor of Black Studies in Education at Rutgers University, with a background that includes a PhD from UC Berkeley and previous roles at the University of Pennsylvania. While she is praised by supporters for advocating for marginalized communities, her alignment with Hamas and extreme rhetoric have made her a polarizing figure, intensifying debates about free speech, academic responsibility, and antisemitism.
