"When members of the American Historical Association (AHA) gathered in Chicago for their annual conference from January 8-11, 2026, many hoped the professional society would condemn the undermining of education and historical research in the United States and abroad. While the majority of members who attended the conference's business meeting on January 10 voted in favor of two resolutions denouncing the destruction of education infrastructure in Gaza and attacks on core principles of education in the United States, respectively, the wins were short-lived."
"Part of it is about bringing your historical profession in alignment with your moral and civic and political values and doing so in a way that supports and advances other struggles within the AHA, including a defense of academic freedom, freedom of speech, [and] the profession itself against the vagaries of this rising authoritarian turn in the U.S."
Members of the American Historical Association (AHA) met in Chicago January 8–11, 2026 for the annual conference. A majority of members at the January 10 business meeting voted in favor of two resolutions denouncing destruction of Gaza's education infrastructure and attacks on core educational principles in the United States. On January 11, AHA leadership announced it would not approve those resolutions, overriding the membership vote. The successful votes resulted from months of organizing by the Palestinian Historians Group, Historians for Peace and Democracy, and Historians for Palestine. Critics described the leadership decision as a violation of AHA principles and a threat to academic freedom amid a rising authoritarian turn.
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