Pro-Hamas groups in the U.S. are increasingly adopting the term —a radical rebranding of North America as illegitimately held by settlers—to justify revolutionary anti-American activism. This rhetoric mirrors their characterization of Israel as “occupied Palestine,” framing both nations as colonial enterprises that must be dismantled. Here’s what the evidence reveals about their goals, tactics, and alliances:
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– : The term “Turtle Island” derives from some Indigenous creation stories but has been weaponized by activists to declare the U.S. and Canada . Pro-Hamas groups like and use it to argue that North America is “occupied” land requiring “decolonization” .
– : Just as these groups deny Israel’s right to exist, they reject the legitimacy of U.S. sovereignty. For example:
– SJP’s “Day of Resistance Toolkit” demands the “complete liberation” of Israel and the “dismantling of Zionism,” while equating American police with Israeli forces .
– University of Minnesota professor Melanie Yazzie declared, “We want U.S. out of everywhere. We want U.S. out of Palestine. We want U.S. out of Turtle Island” .
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– openly calls for abolishing universities, police, and the U.S. government, vowing to “brutalize and escalate” against New York City . The group praises Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks and links to anarchist movements like , whose members face domestic terrorism charges .
– , a New York-based group, has organized rallies supporting Hamas’ “Al-Aqsa Flood” massacre and posted maps targeting Jewish institutions. Members have assaulted Jews at protests, with one attacker asking, “All this for one Jew?” during an arrest .
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– The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) funds , a group mobilizing protests to disrupt critical U.S. infrastructure .
– Historical Hamas networks in the U.S., exposed via FBI investigations, show decades of fundraising and propaganda efforts through fronts like the .
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– : While no direct evidence links pro-Hamas groups to U.S. government funding, universities hosting SJP chapters—many subsidized by federal grants—have allowed antisemitic activism to flourish. For example, Columbia University’s “land acknowledgment” statements align with the “Turtle Island” narrative .
– : The Trump administration’s —a Heritage Foundation blueprint—has driven efforts to revoke visas of pro-Palestinian activists, defund universities tolerating antisemitism, and brand groups like WOL as part of a “Hamas Support Network” . Over 27 of Project Esther’s 47 recommendations are already implemented, including social media screenings for visa applicants .
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These groups aim to by merging anti-Israel, anti-police, and anti-capitalist movements into a unified revolutionary front. While their capacity for large-scale violence remains limited, their rhetoric and alliances with foreign adversaries like the CCP pose a growing threat. As Columbia University professor Adam Kirsch warns, framing America as “occupied Turtle Island” isn’t just symbolic—it’s a rejection of the nation’s very legitimacy, with activists seeking to “sharpen or broaden the legal regimes that best advance MAGA goals” .
