Quick Info
| Profession | Palestinian-American activist, organizer |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Palestinian-American |
| Birthplace | Jordan |
| Date of Birth | 01/01/1993 |
| Age | 33 years |
Latest News about Nerdeen Kiswani
29/03/2026
Nerdeen Kiswani was targeted in an alleged assassination plot that was disrupted by the FBI and NYPD in March 2026. Authorities charged a suspect with federal offences including unlawfully making and possessing destructive devices. Kiswani stated she plans to continue her activism despite the threat.
Do you like Nerdeen Kiswani?
You can vote only once.
Bio/Wiki
| Description | Co-founder and chair of Within Our Lifetime, a pro-Palestine activist group in New York City. Known for leading protests during the Gaza War and organizing at Columbia University. Palestinian-American activist and organizer who has been a prominent figure in the US pro-Palestine movement. |
|---|---|
| Notable Activities | Led or spoken at numerous protests in New York City, including the Columbia University student encampment and protests against detention of Mahmoud Khalil. Organized the 'Globalize the Intifada' campaign and led major marches attended by thousands of protesters across New York's five boroughs. |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Bachelor's Degree | Human rights and international relations from City University of New York (CUNY), attending classes at both College of Staten Island and Hunter College |
|---|---|
| Law Degree | Juris Doctor from CUNY School of Law |
Personal Life
| Religion | Muslim |
|---|---|
| Community | Grew up in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, which has a large Arab and Palestinian community |
Family
| Background | Family are refugees from the Palestinian town of Beit Iksa |
|---|---|
| Childhood | Listened to grandmother's stories about leaving Palestine during the Nakba |
| Current Family | Some family members still live in the West Bank |
Career
| Co-founded NYC Students for Justice in Palestine (NYC SJP), representing multiple CUNY schools; Israeli security forces prevented her from visiting family in the West Bank in June 2015 due to activism; published critical analysis titled 'The BDS Ceiling' in October arguing the BDS movement should go beyond symbolic divestment | |
| NYC SJP renamed to Within Our Lifetime (WOL) | |
| CUNY Law School | President of SJP chapter; organized students against IHRA definition of antisemitism resolution; played key role in organizing BDS resolution; elected commencement speaker at CUNY Law School graduation |
|---|---|
| Commencement Speaker | Elected commencement speaker at CUNY Law School graduation |
| Listed as Al-Awda Youth Representative in New York | |
| Participated in pro-Palestine encampment at Columbia University in April; arrested at pro-Hamas rally in January | |
| Banned indefinitely from entering Israel as of May 2021; helped lead 'Globalize the Intifada' rally as part of Strike MoMA campaign in June | |
| Targeted in an alleged assassination plot that was disrupted by FBI and NYPD in March; vowed to continue activism despite the threat | |
Social Media
| https://www.instagram.com/withinourlifetime/ | |
| https://twitter.com/NerdeenKiswani |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Israeli security forces prevented her from visiting family in the West Bank in June 2015 due to activism | |
| 2. Banned indefinitely from entering Israel as of May 2021 | |
| 3. Filed lawsuit against Betar USA alleging violation of civil rights under the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 | |
| 4. Within Our Lifetime split from national SJP, accusing it of being insufficiently radical | |
| 5. Within Our Lifetime has over 62,000 Instagram followers | |
| 6. Published critical analysis titled 'The BDS Ceiling' in October 2015 arguing the BDS movement should go beyond symbolic divestment | |
| 7. Created a toolkit for young activists interested in Palestinian liberation organizing | |
| 8. Physically assaulted in October 2014 during a demonstration outside the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn when someone snatched her Palestinian flag |