Pro-Palestinian Activists Rally for Freed Columbia Protester

Leqaa Kordia, recently released from ICE detention, leads chants of 'globalize the intifada' in Paterson, New Jersey.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:53pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After speaking alongside city officials in Paterson, N.J., Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian activist who was recently released after more than a year in ICE detention, led a crowd in chants of 'globalize the intifada.' Kordia was one of several protesters investigated by federal authorities after being arrested at Columbia University in 2024 during demonstrations over Israel's war in Gaza.

Why it matters

The event highlighted the ongoing debate over free speech and antisemitism, as well as the plight of Palestinian activists who have faced detention and deportation. Kordia's release and the rally in Paterson reflect the broader tensions around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the support for the Palestinian cause among some activists.

The details

Kordia, 33, was arrested at Columbia University in 2024 during protests over Israel's war in Gaza. She was detained by ICE for over a year before being released. At the event in Paterson, Kordia waved a Palestinian flag and led the crowd in chanting 'globalize the intifada,' a slogan that has sparked intense debate, with Palestinians and their supporters saying it is a rallying cry for liberation, while many Jews consider it a call for violence against Jews and the elimination of Israel.

  • Kordia was arrested at Columbia University in 2024 during protests over Israel's war in Gaza.
  • Kordia spent over a year in ICE detention before being released in March 2026.

The players

Leqaa Kordia

A 33-year-old Palestinian activist who was recently released from ICE detention after being arrested at Columbia University in 2024 during protests over Israel's war in Gaza.

Zohran Mamdani

The outspoken pro-Palestinian mayor of New York City who has made statements in support of Kordia and pressed President Trump for her release.

Mahmoud Khalil

Another Columbia protester who spent three months in ICE detention last year and has become an ally of Mayor Mamdani.

Andre Sayegh

The mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, who is the city's first mayor of Middle Eastern heritage and spoke of Kordia's return to Paterson as a continuation of the city's revolutionary history.

Lilisa Mimms

The Paterson City Council president who said that "Palestinians and Patersonians always overcome obstacles."

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's been a long year, a tough year in ICE dungeons, but I'm finally free.”

— Leqaa Kordia

“I never felt that I was fully free while I knew that you were suffering in the same place where I was. Because I know what it means.”

— Mahmoud Khalil, Columbia Protester

“Her freedom today is a joy for all of us.”

— Andre Sayegh, Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey

“Palestinians and Patersonians always overcome obstacles.”

— Lilisa Mimms, Paterson City Council President

“May Allah free Palestine, from the river to the sea.”

— Leqaa Kordia

What’s next

The U.S. government is seeking to deport Kordia, who is from the West Bank and overstayed her student visa, despite not being charged with a crime.

The takeaway

This event highlights the ongoing tensions and debates around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, free speech, and the treatment of Palestinian activists in the United States. Kordia's release and the rally in Paterson reflect the continued support for the Palestinian cause among some activists, even as they face legal challenges and deportation efforts.