International law firm Winston & Strawn has withdrawn its job offer to an NYU law student who published and distributed inflammatory comments regarding Hamas' recent terrorist attack on Israel.
Here's what this individual wrote:
I want to express, first and foremost, my unwavering and absolute solidarity with Palestinians in their resistance against oppression towards liberation and self-determination. Israel bears full responsibility for this tremendous loss of life. This regime of state-sanctioned violence created the conditions that made resistance necessary. I will not condemn Palestinian resistance.
The firm was swift in its decision:
These comments profoundly conflict with Winston & Strawn's values as a firm. Accordingly, the Firm has rescinded the law student's offer of employment.
What's happening in Israel is horrific and complex. There are millennia of history to unpack to understand how we got to where we are. That said, terrorism in any form is unacceptable and cannot be defended, condoned, or supported. Hamas is murdering innocent people, including children and babies. These are abhorrent atrocities no matter how you look at it.
So, I ask — do you agree with Winston & Strawn's decision to rescind the law student's job offer? What about a local newspaper that fired a basketball beat writer who quote-tweeted his disgust with the team's tweet of solidarity with Israel?
Do you think these individuals deserve to keep their jobs? I'm running a poll on LinkedIn and would love your thoughts and comments. Vote here.