SXSW organizers defended the festival’s decision to include a panel featuring Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. (Photo by kena betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images
South by Southwest Conference and Festival organizers are defending their decision to feature Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil on a panel this weekend, after critics — including Jewish student leaders — accused the festival of giving a platform to rhetoric they say supports Hamas and endangers Jewish students.
The session, scheduled for Sunday as part of SXSW’s culture programming, is titled “The Guardian in Conversation with Mahmoud Khalil on the Cost of Dissent.” It will feature Khalil alongside Betsy Reed, U.S. editor at the Guardian, and Baher Azmy, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights.
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The panel description says Khalil will discuss his detention by federal immigration agents, his release and the “personal and political stakes of resistance.”
But leaders of Longhorn Students for Israel, a University of Texas student group formed after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, said inviting Khalil disregards what they describe as the harm caused by the movement he represented and his own advocacy during campus protests.
“Universities and conferences like South by Southwest are supposed to protect dissent,” LSFI President Jasmine Rad said in a video posted on Thursday to the group’s Instagram account. “The real question is what happens when activism stops being about debate and starts creating an environment where people feel unsafe expressing opposing views.”
Aliza Licht, a podcaster, author and Jewish advocate, previously criticized the festival’s decision in a mid-February Facebook video, calling it “an absolute disgrace.”
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Aside from social media criticism, SXSW organizers have received calls from people who say they plan to protest the Sunday event, although no formal demonstration had been scheduled as of midday Friday.
The American-Statesman reached out to Khalil’s representatives for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
SXSW, panelist defend decision to host Mahmoud Khalil
Greg Rosenbaum, SXSW senior vice president of programming, said hosting the discussion does not mean the festival endorses Khalil’s views.
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“While many people, including us, may strongly disagree with some of the views, the reality is that expressing some of those views in a country with free speech protections led him to be imprisoned,” Rosenbaum told the American-Statesman. “That doesn’t mean we support what he says, but it does mean that there’s a broader conversation that’s worth having about speech, disagreement and the consequences people face for expressing controversial ideas.”
Reed, the Guardian editor, said the panel discussion will examine the circumstances surrounding Khalil’s arrest and the broader implications for civil liberties.
“There’s a reason national and international news outlets are covering every development in Khalil’s case,” Reed said. “It has massive implications for government policy and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.”
The controversy comes as antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents have reached record highs nationally and as lawmakers debate how universities should handle protests tied to the Israel-Hamas war.
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Austin Mayor Kirk Watson confirmed his office received dissenting calls about the panel. Watson said the city does not play a role in selecting festival speakers but will continue protecting people’s right to protest.
“While the City of Austin and I will continue to protect the right of all people — including protestors, attendees, residents and visitors — to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights, we do not condone hate speech, and we will not tolerate violence,” Watson said in a written statement.
Watson added that Austin police are increasing their presence during the spring festival season to help ensure safety.
Lola Young performs on the first night of the SXSW Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase at ACL Live in Austin, Thursday, March 12, 2026 at South by Southwest Festival.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Gogol Bordello performs at the Mohawk during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
The All-American Rejects perform during South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Sofia & the Antoinettes perform on the first night of the SXSW Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase at ACL Live in Austin, Thursday, March 12, 2026 at South by Southwest Festival.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
The All-American Rejects perform during South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Lola Young performs on the first night of the SXSW Rolling Stone Future of Music Showcase at ACL Live in Austin, Thursday, March 12, 2026 at South by Southwest Festival.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Gogol Bordello performs at the Mohawk during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Puzzled Panther performs at the Mohawk during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Boris and the Joy performs at the Mohawk during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Grima, a rock/shoegaze band from Burgos, Spain, performs at Shangri-La during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Fans mosh during the Gogol Bordello concert at the Mohawk during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Gogol Bordello performs at the Mohawk during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Puzzled Panther performs at the Mohawk during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Grima, a rock/shoegaze band from Burgos, Spain, performs at Shangri-La during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
An autonomous robot, Rizzbot, walks around giving compliments and insults to passers-by near SXSW activations on Congress Avenue during the first day of South by Southwest, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
at the Lone Star Roadhouse pop-up at East End Ballroom during South by Southwest in Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Alisha Revel jumps on Quincy Gause in a UFC ring photo op at Paramount+’s The Lodge at Clive Bar in downtown Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
The All-American Rejects perform during South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
at the Lone Star Roadhouse pop-up at East End Ballroom during South by Southwest in Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Actress Demi Moore arrives for the world premiere of “I Love Boosters” at the Paramount Theatre during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Actor Eric André greets fans as he arrives for the world premiere of “I Love Boosters” at the Paramount Theatre during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Director Boots Riley arrives for the world premiere of “I Love Boosters” at the Paramount Theatre during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
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Julia Moreland, from Austin, plays the PWC Claw Machine at the SXSW Innovation Clubhouse in Brazos Hall on the first day of South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
The All-American Rejects perform during South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
The All-American Rejects perform during South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Shay Tressa of Madison, Wisconsin, walks along Congress Ave. during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
A festival-goer waves a Feel Tech haptic device while watching an animated concert during the SXSW Expo: International Innovations at the Fairmont Hotel during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The exhibition features global companies and startups showcasing emerging technologies and new ideas across industries.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
A Rivian R2 electric vehicle drives over a dirt obstacle course set up on Congress Avenue during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Festivalgoers could ride in the vehicles as part of Rivian’s “Electric Joyride” demonstration.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Kelly Ritz of Walnut Creek, California, reacts while dancing with a Unitree G1 humanoid robot at the SXSW Expo: International Innovations at the Fairmont Hotel during South by Southwest in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The expo brings together global companies and startups showcasing emerging technologies.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Andreas Aronsson of Raymond, Maine, holds Feel Tech haptic devices against his face while watching an animated concert during the SXSW Expo: International Innovations at the Fairmont Hotel during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The exhibition brings together global companies and startups showcasing emerging technologies and new ideas across industries.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Rivian R2 trucks drive on an off-road course at the SXSW Rivian Electric Joyride on Congress Avenue the first day of South by Southwest in Austin, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Muna Salah, from Washington D.C., tries out a musical vibrating hammock at the SXSW Innovation Clubhouse in Brazos Hall on the first day of South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
A festival attendee plays the PWC Claw Machine at the SXSW Innovation Clubhouse in Brazos Hall on the first day of South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Zara Graciliano of Guadalajara, Mexico, poses for a photo at the Congress Avenue Block Party during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The event space on Congress Avenue is open throughout SXSW and is free and open to the public this year.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Rivian R2 Trucks navigate an off-road course at the Rivian Electric Joyride on Congress Avenue the first day of South by Southwest, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Kassidy Saba of Austin, from left, Aiden Blevins of New York and Haison Nguyen of Austin react to a Unitree G1 humanoid robot during the SXSW Expo: International Innovations at the Fairmont Hotel during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The exhibition features global companies and startups showcasing emerging technologies and new ideas.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
The Paramount Theatre, which hosts several red-carpet movie premieres during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Muna Salah, from Washington D.C., tries out a musical vibrating hammock at the SXSW Innovation Clubhouse in Brazos Hall on the first day of South by Southwest as the festival celebrates its 40th year in Austin, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Festival-goers relax in the Film & TV Clubhouse at 800 Congress Ave. during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The venue serves as a gathering space for attendees with programming, panels and networking events focused on film and television.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Rivian R2 trucks drive on an off-road course at the SXSW Rivian Electric Joyride on Congress Avenue the first day of South by Southwest in Austin, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Rivian R2 Trucks navigate an off-road course at the Rivian Electric Joyride on Congress Avenue the first day of South by Southwest, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
An autonomous robot, Rizzbot, walks around giving compliments and insults to passers-by near SXSW activations on Congress Avenue during the first day of South by Southwest, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Takahiro Yamamoto of Tokyo, Japan experiences a virtual reality demonstration from NHK Technologies during the SXSW Expo: International Innovations at the Fairmont Hotel during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The exhibition brings together global companies and startups showcasing emerging technologies and new ideas across industries.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Laurel Evans of Walnut Creek, California, dances with a Unitree G1 humanoid robot during the SXSW Expo: International Innovations at the Fairmont Hotel during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The exhibition brings together global companies and startups showcasing emerging technologies and new ideas.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
A festival-goer holds a Feel Tech haptic device while watching an animated concert during the SXSW Expo: International Innovations at the Fairmont Hotel during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The exhibition features global companies and startups showcasing emerging technologies and new ideas across industries.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Ryusuke Tomita of Chiryu, Japan, demonstrates a fabric-like speaker material developed by Tsuchiya Co. Ltd. during the SXSW Expo: International Innovations at the Fairmont Hotel during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The exhibition features global companies and startups showcasing emerging technologies and new ideas.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Tomas Bubenicek of Prague, Czech Republic, demonstrates the 3D-printed Prusacaster guitar at the Prusa Research booth during the SXSW Expo: International Innovations at the Fairmont Hotel during the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals in Austin on Thursday, March 12, 2026. The exhibition features global companies and startups showcasing emerging technologies and new ideas across industries.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Amanda Sink punches a dummy at the UFC activation at Paramount+’s The Lodge at Clive Bar in downtown Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
A staff member embroiders a personalized bandana at Paramount+’s The Lodge at Clive Bar in downtown Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Anna Hanks and Erik Mossie light torches at the Survivor themed activation at Paramount+’s The Lodge at Clive Bar in downtown Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Patrons are served at “The Patch” bar from “Landman” at Paramount+’s The Lodge at Clive Bar in downtown Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
People take photographs at a “Landman” photo op at Paramount+’s The Lodge at Clive Bar in downtown Austin Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Who is Mahmoud Khalil?
Khalil’s case has drawn national attention because it was among the first arrests tied to President Donald Trump’s push to crack down on students who participated in pro-Palestinian campus protests. His detention sparked protests at universities nationwide, including UT Austin, and came amid broader efforts by Republican lawmakers in Texas to curb pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses.
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Federal immigration agents detained Khalil on March 8, 2025. The 30-year-old international affairs graduate student had served as a negotiator and spokesperson for student activists at Columbia University during an encampment protesting the Israel-Hamas war.
Khalil, who is a legal U.S. resident, was not accused of occupying a campus building or violating laws during the demonstrations. But federal officials argued that noncitizens who participate in protests expressing views they consider antisemitic or “pro-Hamas” should face deportation.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited a rarely used statute allowing deportation of individuals deemed to pose “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” to the United States.
Khalil’s lawyers challenged the detention, arguing immigration officials arrested him “on the basis of his speech,” in violation of the First Amendment.
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After his arrest, Khalil was transferred to an immigration detention center in Jena, Louisiana — thousands of miles from his attorneys and his wife, who was pregnant at the time.
He remained there for months before a federal judge ordered his release.
U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled in June that the government had “clearly not met the standards for detention,” noting Khalil’s legal residence status, low risk of fleeing and the lack of allegations that he committed violence.
Farbiarz said it would be “highly, highly unusual” for the government to continue detaining Khalil under those circumstances.
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Federal officials later filed a notice of appeal of the ruling, and the administration continued pursuing possible deportation based on allegations that Khalil misrepresented information on his green card application.
The legal fight is ongoing.