Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) has formally requested that the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigate the Palestinian American Community Center (PACC) in New Jersey for potential violations of U.S. law. This request follows Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s (D-MI) participation in a PACC event that also featured Wisam Rafeedie, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization since 1997.
The event in question included a “Palestine storytime” segment led by Tlaib and her son, Adam, as part of PACC’s “Youth Day” activities. Subsequent sessions featured Rafeedie in a virtual discussion titled “Centering Palestinian Political Prisoners.” Due to visa restrictions, Rafeedie participated remotely. Promotional materials initially listed Rafeedie as a speaker alongside Tlaib, but his name was later removed from PACC’s website.
Gottheimer’s concerns center on potential violations of Section 2339B of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which prohibits providing material support to designated terrorist organizations. He emphasized that such collaborations could undermine U.S. national security and called for a thorough DOJ investigation into PACC’s activities and affiliations.
This development has sparked debate within political circles, highlighting tensions surrounding U.S. policy on Palestinian issues and the boundaries of acceptable political engagement with organizations linked to terrorism. The DOJ has yet to respond publicly to Gottheimer’s request.
