Institute for Understanding Racism in Anti-Palestinian Discrimination: Research, Advocacy, and Change

The Institute for Understanding Racism in Anti-Palestinian Discrimination (IUAPR) is a groundbreaking organization composed of researchers, physicians, psychologists, legal experts, anti-racism advocates, and communications specialists. The institute is committed to empirical research, education, and advocacy focused on the impacts of racism against Palestinians on individuals and communities across all sectors of society.

Mission and Foundation

The institute’s mission is to end racism against Palestinians and their allies, including those who advocate for Palestinian rights and freedom. Founded in May 2024, IUAPR emerged from urgent needs highlighted by events such as the bombing of Al-Durra Children’s Hospital in Gaza and the killing of six-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume in Chicago—both stark reminders of the violence and discrimination faced by Palestinians.

Initial educational workshops quickly expanded into a full-scale research initiative. The institute produced the first nationwide study in the United States on anti-Palestinian racism, revealing that nearly 90% of over 1,100 participants had experienced or witnessed such racism, with three-quarters reporting negative effects on their mental or physical health.

Defining Anti-Palestinian Racism

IUAPR defines anti-Palestinian racism as a form of cultural racism that silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames, or dehumanizes Palestinians and their narratives. Unlike Islamophobia or general anti-Arab racism, this form of discrimination directly targets Palestinian identity, history, and rights. Examples include denial of the Nakba, justification of violence against Palestinians, and falsely labeling Palestinians or their allies as “antisemitic” or “supporters of terrorism.”

Research and Advocacy

The institute is the only U.S. research center exclusively dedicated to anti-Palestinian racism. Its work combines rigorous data collection with advocacy and education. Current projects include:

• A nationally representative study of adults in the U.S.

• The first U.S. study on child health and anti-Palestinian racism.

• Peer-reviewed publications.

• Digital learning tools and policy frameworks.

• Youth engagement and advocacy programs.

• Anti-racism educational workshops across universities, workplaces, and civil society.

IUAPR also provides resources that help individuals and institutions challenge discrimination effectively. For example, when a physician was dismissed for supporting Palestinian patients’ rights, the institute’s tools helped colleagues advocate for his reinstatement.

Community Impact and Partnerships

Beyond academia, IUAPR collaborates widely with civil rights groups, healthcare institutions, schools, labor unions, interfaith networks, and community organizations. Its efforts help dismantle fear, improve reporting, and empower institutions to adopt anti-racist, human-rights-centered policies.

In just a short time, the institute has trained hundreds of stakeholders and guided organizations to recognize and address anti-Palestinian racism. Its research-based framework has changed how workplaces, schools, and civic groups discuss this issue, ensuring Palestinian identity and rights are no longer erased or mislabeled.

Long-Term Vision

IUAPR envisions a future where Palestinians are treated with dignity, where defending Palestinian rights is no longer considered controversial, and where equality and justice are universally applied. Over the next decade, the institute aims to:

• Mainstream recognition of anti-Palestinian racism with standardized measures across institutions.

• Build a globally recognized center for research and education on this issue.

• Establish a strong evidence base on its health and civil rights impacts.

• Serve as a national leader in anti-racism advocacy and policy development.

How Communities Can Help

Support for IUAPR comes in many forms: donations, partnerships for workshops, sharing resources on anti-Palestinian racism, volunteering, and amplifying the institute’s work on social media. Every contribution—financial, educational, or personal—helps build societies rooted in dignity, equality, and justice.

Core Message

The institute’s message is clear: Anti-Palestinian racism is real, harmful, and must be confronted. Naming it and challenging it are the first steps toward justice, strengthening communities against all forms of hate. Recognizing it is not divisive—it affirms core values of freedom, dignity, and equal rights for all.