Mohammad Mahdi Abbasi, researcher in the field of American Studies
Exactly one year ago, in the opening days of 1403 [March 2024], the Leader of the Islamic Revolution issued a letter addressed to American students, urging them not to remain silent in the face of the blatant atrocities in Gaza. But beyond commending their support for Palestine, the letter offered a profound assessment of American society, an assessment that told them: “You are standing on the right side of history,” and history will be proud of that stand.
Now, a year has passed. And what has transpired during this time has not only validated the insight of that letter, but has also revealed that the Palestinian issue is no longer a peripheral or merely humanitarian issue in American society, but it has become one of the central rifts in its political and social discourse. The wave of student solidarity with Gaza in the United States has not subsided. Rather, it has expanded, making its way into the heart of campuses, the streets, and even the American political sphere.
This article, by highlighting seven clear markers from the past year, demonstrates how outrage over Zionist regime’s crimes in Gaza, and the US’s complicity in this overt genocide, has taken root as a lasting feature of America’s social transformation. A transformation that Imam Khamenei’s letter of 2024 anticipated with striking clarity.
1. Students who pay the price, but refuse to stay silent
In recent months, the arrest and threatened expulsion of several American students, such as Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, and Mohsen Mahdavi for protesting Israeli atrocities has not intimidated academic spaces in the US. On the contrary, it has revealed a new level of moral resilience. When someone like Mahmoud Khalil remains steadfast even while missing the birth of his child, imprisoned, this reflects how the Palestinian cause has become deeply internalized, serious, and costly for a segment of American youth.
2. Unprecedented rift between universities and the government
Developments in the past months have shown a growing divergence between major US universities, like Harvard, and the federal government’s policies. Particularly under Trump-era influence, the US government has sought to tighten its grip on pro-Palestinian activism. Yet, many universities, despite immense financial, media, and political pressure, have refused to fully comply. This resistance—though not absolute—signals the awakening of intermediary institutions in American society willing to pay a price for their autonomy.
3. Diplomas burned to illuminate the truth
Burning one's diploma in America — a society that equates personal success with degrees and individual achievement — is an uncommon, symbolic act. When students at Columbia University set fire to their degrees in protest against the university’s collaboration with the Zionist regime, they sent a clear message: This is no surface-level protest, but a challenge to the very value system that underpins the establishment. These actions show that Palestine has become a central axis in redefining student identity in the US.
4. Hunger strikes: Fasting as a form of solidarity
In Western protest culture, hunger strikes are a distinct form of civil action, where the body itself becomes the vessel for the message. The rise in hunger strikes at institutions like Stanford and the University of California —including the case of Maya Abdullah, who was hospitalized after nine days — shows just how deeply Gaza has become a matter of conscience and personal connection for these students. They are determined to express solidarity with the people of Gaza by any means necessary.
5. Cries echoed across America
Protest against Israel’s crimes is no longer confined to campuses or the streets. In recent months, congressional hearings and political gatherings have repeatedly been disrupted by demonstrators calling for an end to US support for Israel. These public protests indicate that the Palestinian cause can no longer be relegated to the margins or dismissed as a niche concern of student activists.
6. Pro-Palestinian Voices Entering American Politics
In addition to long-standing Palestinian-American advocates like Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley in Congress, new figures such as Zohran Mamdani are making waves. Mamdani, a leading candidate in the New York City mayoral race, made headlines with an unprecedented declaration: if elected, he would have Netanyahu arrested should he step foot in the city. Such positions show that support for Palestine is becoming normalized within America’s official political discourse — something unimaginable just a few years ago, given the overwhelming financial influence of pro-Israel lobbies like AIPAC.
7. The Streets Are Still Alive
Mass protests in support of Gaza continue to erupt across the United States. A month ago, major American cities — including Washington D.C. — witnessed demonstrations marked by scenes like the display of thousands of tiny shoes, commemorating Gaza’s martyred children. These events reflect the enduring presence of the Palestinian issue in the collective conscience of a significant portion of American society.
A review of the past year clearly shows that, despite extensive efforts by the US government and mainstream media to silence the truth, the Palestinian cause remains more alive in America than ever before. Not only students, but a broad spectrum of academics, media professionals, political figures, and civil society actors are now engaged with this cause.
What was articulated in the Imam Khamenei’s letter of 2024 is now more than a “call to action.” It stands as a realistic portrayal of a society in transition — a society under the sway of immense media machinery and powerful lobbies, yet one in which voices of truth continue to rise from its corners.
One year after that letter, we can now say with confidence: The prediction has come true. American youth have not stayed silent in the face of the Zionist regime’s crimes. They are still standing firmly on "the right side of history."
(The views expressed in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Khamenei.ir.)
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