TPUSA leader demands action after UChicago professor’s arrest at anti-ICE rally

The president of the Turning Point USA chapter at the University of Chicago wants repercussions for a faculty member who was arrested for suspected violent crimes on Oct. 3 at an anti-ICE rally. 

“Professor Eman Abdelhadi’s history of inflammatory and anti-American rhetoric is deeply concerning. Students deserve a safe and open campus environment where they can express their views without fear of intimidation or retaliation from faculty,” Tyler Shasteen told Fox News Digital. 

Abdelhadi, an associate professor in the school’s Department of Comparative Human Development, was arrested on Oct. 3 and charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery to a government employee and two misdemeanor counts of resisting/obstructing peace stemming from a rally outside the Broadview, Illinois ICE facility. 

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CONDEMNS VIOLENCE BUT DODGES QUESTIONS ABOUT PROFESSOR ARRESTED IN ANTI-ICE RIOTS

Rallies, some of which have turned violent, have been ongoing there for weeks. 

“Professor Abdelhadi’s statements, which clearly endorse violence, are unacceptable and undermine the safety and well-being of our community,” said Shasteen. “I call on the University of Chicago to review her position and ensure accountability for any actions that violate university policy or the law.”

Last week, the school condemned violence, but has resisted answering questions about whether Abdhelhadi has been disciplined. 

Abdelhadi has been largely silent, too. However, she thanked her supporters on Bluesky early last week. 

“Thank you so much everyone for the messages of love and support,” she said on the platform. “I feel fortified by your presence in my life and in the world. I keep thinking about all our neighbors and siblings—hundreds in Chicago alone—who’ve been detained into the unknown of horrendous facilities. We owe them resistance.” 

FAR-LEFT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PROFESSOR CHARGED WITH VIOLENT FELONIES DURING ANTI-ICE RIOTS IN BROADVIEW

Just a day before her arrest, she accused ICE of “terrorizing our communities” on a far-left podcast. 

“I mean, in Broadview, ICE has been setting up shop in our backyard. Just brazenly taking up community resources to terrorize this very same community,” she said. 

She also put out a call for resistance, and lambasted those who she believes aren’t taking extreme enough action.

“At this point, you are either on the side of protecting our neighbors and protecting our community, or you’re on the side of this administration. There is no neutral ground in this moment. There’s no center left. You’re either resisting or you’re complicit,” she said. 

At the Socialism 2025 conference earlier this year, she also slammed her employer. 

“F— the University of Chicago, it’s evil, you know it’s a colonial landlord. Like, why would I put any of my political energy into this space? I kind of had a little bit of disdain for people who spent their time doing that,” she said on a panel during the far-left gathering. 

“Turns out, I work at one of the biggest employers in the city of Chicago. I work at a place that is a landlord, a healthcare provider, a police force, f— that s—, but, they are, and a place where I have access to thousands of people that I could potentially organize… actually, this is where I need to build power. That’s possible structural leverage,” she said. 

The University of Chicago and Abdelhadi did not return comment requests.