Missouri Attorney General Hanaway Launches Investigation into Students for Justice in Palestine

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -Today, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her office has launched an investigation into Students for Justice in Palestine's (SJP) fundraising and charitable-solicitation activities within the State of Missouri. Public reports from independent organizations have raised concerns about SJP's fundraising representations and alleged links between its efforts and organizations whose resources may ultimately reach radical Islamist terrorist groups. Those concerns have prompted closer scrutiny of how the organization solicits and uses donations from Missourians.

"Our office will not tolerate any organization duping Missourians or Missouri students into unknowingly financing radical Islamic terrorism," said General Hanaway. "We will use every tool the law allows to expose deceptive fundraising, trace where the money goes, and stop any effort to channel charitable donations to violent or terror-linked actors. Missouri will not be exploited as a cash conduit for terrorists in the Middle East."

SJP is a campus-based organization with chapters across the country, including at the University of Missouri (Mizzou), the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri State University, and others. SJP's national leadership and multiple campus chapters issued statements that praised and endorsed Hamas's violence, including its attacks on civilians following the October 7, 2023 incursions in Israel. National SJP also distributed a "Day of Resistance" toolkit that celebrated the assault as a "historic win for the Palestinian resistance" and cast "Free Palestine" not as protest rhetoric, but as a call for armed confrontation against perceived oppressors.

The Attorney General's Office is issuing civil investigative demands (CIDs) to Mizzou SJP and National SJP after identifying grounds to inquire whether its affiliated chapters, agents, or representatives have engaged in conduct prohibited by the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. The office has reason to believe the subjects may have engaged in deception, fraud, false promises, misrepresentation, unfair practices, and the concealment, suppression, or omission of material facts in connection with charitable solicitations.

The CIDs require production of records related to the solicitation, collection, reporting, and handling of charitable funds in or from Missouri. The Attorney General's Office will review the materials produced in response to the CIDs and continue its investigation based on the facts developed.

The CID sent to National SJP can be viewed here.