Fateh Azzam, at a Rally Outside of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D) Portland Office Several Years Ago.
The “Consquence of Palestine” Conference will proceed this Saturday at First Parish Congregational Church in Gorham, after the University of Southern Maine rescinded the user agreement with conference organizers, just six days prior to the event. The Conference is scheduled for SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2026 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. The Congregational Church is located at 1 Church Street, in Gorham it was announced late this afternoon.
At issue was an invitation to Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian territories. Ms. Albanese was capriciously sanctioned by the Trump Administration for work reporting on and calling for accountability on behalf of the Palestinian people and territories.
Conference organizers say they “refused to capitulate after USM cancelled our facilities contract – seemingly in response to organized opposition to our informed dialogue. USM’s efforts to detail our conference were a troubling reflection of the sweeping impact of US sanctions on scholarship, journalism and human rights advocacy.”
Organizers say rumors had been circulating about external calls condemning the conference to the USM President’s office and Board of Trustees. Articles began to appear in right wing media outlets, one of which reported the cancellation even before organizers were directly notified by the University. “This playbook is not new. We have seen it time and time again,” said Fateh Azzam from the Maine Coalition for Palestine. “Palestine will not be canceled. The tide of public opinion in the US has shifted, except in halls of power it seems. This conference will proceed as planned, with an expert lineup of speakers and experts and an open discussion that will not be censored beneath a false veneer of “compliance.”
Experts on international law, media and human rights will lead discussions exploring the roots, implications, and potential direction and resolution of the conflict over Palestine and its impact on domestic US politics and the global order. The all-day Conference centers Palestine in a global context where international law, human rights and truth are the casualties of violent state power and media narrative control. The Conference wll take place over four panels, featuring distinguished speakers.
“What kind of a message are you sending to your students and the community Chancellor Malloy?” asks this blogger. “We are cowards. You should be also.”
For more backkground information on the Conference and USM’s last minute pulling its support, please visit posts herein dated February 18th and February 24th, 2026.