What we’re about
The SFDebate Meetup is an open forum for discussion on the events of our time. We have three goals:
(1) UNDERSTAND OTHER POINTS OF VIEW. With so much news available to us, it is easy to fall into the trap of relying on sources that simply support and reinforce our own limited beliefs. The SFDebate Meetup is a chance for you to expand your perspectives and understanding. We believe that when opinions are discussed in public, our critical faculties are sharpened as we are exposed to diverse viewpoints that we may not have considered before.
(2) DEVELOP YOUR PERSUASIVE SKILLS. If you want to be able to convince others of your ideas, if you want to change the world we live in, SFDebate is the forum for you. Consider SFDebate to be a 'dojo' for persuasive speaking. It is a place where you will not only be exposed to opposing points of view, but a safe place where you will be encouraged to find and speak up for yours. We work hard to keep things civil and will not tolerate physical intimidation or threats of any kind.
(3) The point is to HAVE FUN and MAKE FRIENDS. It is a meeting of minds, and we follow every meeting with drinks , a bite to eat, and some drunken debate at a nearby bar/restaurant.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- [ONLINE] Detentions of Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, Mohsen MahdawiLink visible for attendees
This event is part of an occasional SFDebate series that we call "cancellation of the month", where we pick someone who has been in the news for having lost a job, a platform, a contract, or a nomination, and there is a lot of public debate, usually polarized, about whether or not the person deserved it. We look at the reasons given for the "cancellation", and discuss whether or not we think those were good reasons. Then at the end, we vote on our approval or disapproval of the "cancellation."
This time, we'll debate the merits of the U.S. government's detention and stated intent to expel three foreign nationals out of the country because of their activities in support of Palestinians and against the Israeli government while students at American universities:
- Mahmoud Khalil, recent Columbia University graduate and lawful permanent resident of the U.S., detained by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 8, 2025.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detention_of_Mahmoud_Khalil
As legal authority for ordering deportation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio cites §1227(a)(4)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which reads: "An alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable."
Read accusations against Khalil by Canary Mission.
Read defenses by ACLU. - Rümeysa Öztürk, Tufts University student, a Turkish citizen on a student visa, detained by agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 25, 2025.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detention_of_R%C3%BCmeysa_%C3%96zt%C3%BCrk
As legal authority for ordering deportation, Secretary of State Rubio cites §1201(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which reads: "After the issuance of a visa or other documentation to any alien, the consular officer or the Secretary of State may at any time, in his discretion, revoke such visa or other documentation."
Read accusations against Öztürk by Canary Mission.
Read defenses by ACLU. - Mohsen Mahdawi, Columbia University student and lawful permanent resident of the U.S., detained at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office on April 14, 2025.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detention_of_Mohsen_Mahdawi
As legal authority for ordering deportation, Secretary of State Rubio cites the same §1227(a)(4)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act as for Khalil, above.
Read accusations against Mahdawi by Canary Mission.
Read defenses by ACLU.
All three of these people are suing the U.S. government for its actions against them, but we are not lawyers or law students, so let's not get bogged down in debates about legality or constitutionality. If the government did something illegal, or in a way that violated constitutional protections, it might still be possible that the government could have achieved the same effect through a legitimate legal route, or the law could be changed, or the constitution could even be amended to allow for it. On the other hand, if the government did everything completely legally, we can always debate the discretion exercised by the Secretary of State in pursuing these actions.
Our meeting will be conducted on Zoom. The Zoom link will be visible here on the event page before the event to those who RSVP. It's your choice if you want to turn on your camera or not, but people who can be seen are often more persuasive. At SFDebate, everyone gets a chance to speak and is encouraged to do so, but no one is required to speak if they don't want to.
- Mahmoud Khalil, recent Columbia University graduate and lawful permanent resident of the U.S., detained by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 8, 2025.
![[ONLINE] Detentions of Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, Mohsen Mahdawi cover photo](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/a/6/9/event_527607241.webp "[ONLINE] Detentions of Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, Mohsen Mahdawi")
