Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has launched an investigation into the fundraising and charitable-solicitation activities of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), including its national organization and a chapter at the University of Missouri.
Hanaway’s office announced the investigation Sept. 23, saying it is examining whether SJP or its representatives violated Missouri’s Merchandising Practices Act in connection with charitable fundraising. The office issued civil investigative demands (CIDs) to Mizzou SJP and National SJP seeking records related to the solicitation, collection, reporting and handling of charitable funds raised in or from Missouri.
SJP is a national student organization with chapters at universities across the country. In Missouri, the attorney general’s office identified chapters at the University of Missouri in Columbia and Kansas City, as well as Washington University in St. Louis.
The investigation follows what Hanaway’s office described as public reports raising questions about SJP’s fundraising representations and alleged connections between its fundraising efforts and organizations whose resources could ultimately reach terrorist groups. The attorney general’s office said it is investigating potential deception, fraud, false promises, misrepresentation, unfair practices and the concealment or omission of material information related to charitable solicitations.
The attorney general’s announcement also referenced statements from SJP leaders and campus chapters regarding Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The office said National SJP distributed a “Day of Resistance” toolkit following the attack that celebrated the assault as a “historic win for the Palestinian resistance.”
The CIDs do not establish that SJP violated Missouri law. They require production of records related to the solicitation, collection, reporting and handling of charitable funds in or from Missouri. The Attorney General’s Office said it will review the records produced in response to the demands and continue the investigation based on the facts developed.
