Maryland Hate Crime Commission Member Suspended Over Anti-Israel Posts

Zainab Chaudry's controversial social media posts prompt Attorney General to draft values statement on personal communications.

Zainab Chaudry, a member of Maryland’s Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention and director of the Maryland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), has been temporarily suspended by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown for her social media posts criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza.
Chaudry's posts, which included images of Palestinian victims and claims that Israel is committing war crimes, have been perceived by some as extreme and divisive, and have drawn ire from state officials.
In response to the controversy, Brown has assigned staff to draft a values statement about personal communications, and has urged other commission members to exercise care in their communications to avoid statements that could be perceived as hate speech.
Chaudry has defended her posts, stating that she is using her personal social media account to express support for Palestinians suffering through a growing humanitarian crisis.
The incident has raised questions about the balance of free speech and the responsibilities of commission members, and has been described by Brown as the commission's first test.