Defending Dissent in a Time of Crisis: How Philanthropy Can Rise to the Moment
By Kathryn Snyder
Director of Movement Partnerships
In a moment that demands both urgency and resolve, Piper Fund and RISE Together Fund—joined by over ten leading philanthropic organizations including WDN—recently convened a critical funder briefing to address a deepening threat to democracy: the escalating assault on protest, free speech, and dissent in the United States. The webinar, Mahmoud Khalil and the Assault on Dissent: How Philanthropy Can Respond, featured civil rights attorneys and advocates sounding the alarm about the aggressive use of legal and immigration systems to target activists—especially those supporting Palestinian human rights.
Diala Khalil of the Center for Constitutional Rights spotlighted the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a student activist whose detention exemplifies how immigration enforcement is being weaponized to punish political dissent. Mara Verheyden-Hilliard of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund called this an “emergency unlike anything in our lifetimes,” noting that democratic safeguards are being stripped away under the guise of combating antisemitism and ensuring public safety.
The speakers outlined a concerning pattern of tactics used to stifle dissent:
Targeting non-citizen activists for deportation
Fast-tracking relocations to jurisdictions favorable to the government
Misusing immigration law to criminalize political speech
Passing legislation to expand protest-related criminal charges
Melissa Rudnick of Piper Fund shared that 45 anti-protest bills are currently moving through state legislatures—evidence of a national strategy to criminalize organizing and dissent across movements. Golnaz Fakhimi of Muslim Advocates shared how legal and advocacy groups are mobilizing rapidly to push back—creating attorney networks, launching know-your-rights campaigns, and offering individualized legal support.
But the work is outpacing resources. The message to philanthropy was direct: this moment requires immediate, flexible, and sustained investment in legal defense, movement infrastructure, and long-term organizing. Rana Elmir of RISE Together Fund closed with a powerful reminder: “Philanthropy must expand, be uncomfortable, and stand in solidarity with those defending fundamental rights.”
This is more than a call to support one movement or one case. It’s a wake-up call to all who believe in democracy. The tools being used today to target Palestinian solidarity activists could be used against racial justice organizers, environmental defenders, reproductive rights advocates, and more. The path forward demands collective action, strategic resistance, and unwavering solidarity. Philanthropy has a vital role to play—and the time to act is now.