Anti-Palestinian Racism Survey Preliminary Report April 2024
Anti-Palestinian racism is a form of racism that “silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames, or dehumanizes Palestinians or their narratives.”
This survey was designed in consultation with the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association and based on the description of anti-Palestinian racism in their seminal report: “Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations.”
The survey was developed to assess the prevalence and impacts of anti-Palestinian racism on both Palestinians and non-Palestinians.
“Anti-Palestinian Racism is experienced by: Palestinians; those perceived to be Palestinians or inherently pro-Palestinian; and non-Palestinians who express support for Palestinian rights. [Anti-Palestinian racism] usually targets those who publicly speak in support of Palestinian rights or share Palestinian narratives or openly criticize the state of Israel for their treatment of Palestinians.”
The primary research questions included: 1. What is the prevalence of anti-Palestinian racism in a general population of people in the United States? 2. What is the prevalence of anti-Palestinian racism experienced by both Palestinians and non-Palestinians? 3. What is the prevalence of fear, feelings of isolation, and/or other negative health effects potentially due to anti-Palestinian racism?
An important part of this study is the contextualization of anti-Palestinian racism in its expansion beyond the core target population. Through our work as pediatricians and psychologists, we realized that anti-Palestinian racism was impacting both Palestinians and non-Palestinians. However, since anti-Palestinian racism is under-recognized and under-studied, many people were unaware of what they were experiencing and felt isolated. We hypothesized that anti-Palestinian racism is affecting much larger numbers of people than previously understood with potentially significant negative health effects. This is the first study we are aware of designed to investigate this concept.
A 5-minute, voluntary nation-wide survey was based on information from the “Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations” report, consultation with the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, and consultation with pediatricians and other physicians, anti-racist and communication experts, educators, students, and community members. The survey was approved by the UCSF IRB prior to implementation. Surveys were conducted online, distributed via email to multiple social media lists, physician groups, and other online lists.
KEY FINDINGS:
Over 1200 respondents completed the survey. The majority of respondents identified as non-Palestinian (72.5%). The survey sample was racially and ethnically diverse, with self-reported race/ethnicity as follows: 35.8% Arab or Arab American, 32.0% White or European American, 22.7% Asian or Asian American, 7.3% Hispanic or Latinx, 6.9% multiracial or multiethnic, 3.7% Indigenous (including Indigenous American, Australasian, Alaskan, Arctic Indigenous, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other Indigenous), and 3.6% Black or African American. Most respondents identified as women (61.0%) and non-Muslim (57.9%). The sample was comprised of a diverse age range: 18–24 years (9.4%), 25–34 (28.6%), 35–44 (29.6%), 45–54 (17.8%), 55–64 (8.0%), 65–74 (5.2%), and 75+ (1.5%). In addition, 31.7% of respondents identified as LGBTQ+.
The major finding of the survey is that 64.6% of respondents experienced anti-Palestinian racism either directly or online (Figure 1). This was confirmed in a separate survey item in which 63.4% of respondents reported experiencing silencing, exclusion, harassment, physical threat or harm, or defamation while advocating for Gaza and/or Palestinian human rights (Figure 2). Other dramatic findings were that 73.5% of respondents felt alone or isolated in their concern about Palestinian human rights (Figure 3) and 87.9% of respondents had witnessed others experiencing anti-Palestinian racism either directly or online (Figure 4). Anti-Palestinian racism negatively impacts the people experiencing it and the data suggests that the racist behavior is widespread. In addition, 55.3% of respondents were afraid to speak out about what is happening to Palestinians in Gaza or for Palestinian human rights in general (Figure 5).
Regarding the impact of anti-Palestinian racism in the workplace, 47.5% of respondents experienced or witnessed anti-Palestinian racism from colleagues at work, and 31.6% experienced or witnessed anti-Palestinian racism from someone in a supervisory role at work who can hire or fire them. Additionally, 37.2% experienced or witnessed anti-Palestinian racism in school or another academic setting from teachers, faculty, or administrators, and 30.5% experienced or witnessed anti-Palestinian racism in school or another academic setting from students. The high prevalence of anti-Palestinian racism in workplaces and schools suggests that it is pervasive across multiple settings (Table 1).
As health professionals, we were especially concerned about the impact of anti-Palestinian racism on respondents’ physical and emotional health. The vast majority (82.4%) reported experiencing mental or physical health harms at least once or twice due to experiencing or witnessing anti-Palestinian racism, with 71.2% reporting health impacts at least some of the time and 38.3% reporting health impacts most or all of the time (Figure 6).
Taken together, our findings suggest that anti-Palestinian racism affects many more people than previously expected, is highly prevalent in many sectors of society, is having a deleterious impact on people’s health and wellness, and is resulting in increased levels of isolation, fear, and intimidation. We believe these findings suggest that anti-Palestinian racism is a pervasive phenomenon, affects Americans of diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, and deserves special attention to combat the negative impacts on society, our communities, and individual health and well-being.
We are releasing this preliminary report in advance of a complete and final report, currently in preparation, because we believe these findings are novel and profound. Anti-Palestinian racism must be addressed immediately by elected officials, governmental and non-governmental institutions, corporations, anti-racism and anti-hate initiatives, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, human resources (HR) offices, universities, schools, hospitals, and any other institution in which people may be affected throughout the country.
More research is needed to further understand anti-Palestinian racism and its impact on individuals in multiple settings. In addition, dedicated funding is needed to raise awareness of this under-recognized form of racism, educate schools and workplaces on anti-Palestinian racism, and provide training on how to identify and effectively combat this phenomenon and the accompanying harms.