Benjamin Baird

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT BENJAMIN BAIRD

Director of MEF Action, a project of the Middle East Forum. A public affairs specialist focusing on Middle East policy, foreign influence, and counter-Islamist activism. with a track record of successful advocacy campaigns. Examples:*Organized a nationwide #DivestFromQatar campaign targeting top U.S. hedge funds and public equity firms. Mobilized letters, the campaign was featured in the Washington Post and hundreds of other outlets.*Identified a major U.S. Senate candidate’s ties to Turkey, significantly impacting the direction of a critical Senate race. Research featured in the Washington Post, NY Times, Washington Times, and countless other outlets.*Part of a team that successfully advocated for a major foreign media outlet to register as a foreign agent under U.S. law.*Joined Iranian American activists in successfully pushing a respected liberal arts college to suspend a professor involved in covering up the Iran regime’s crimes against humanity. Secured a key piece of evidence that led to the tenured professor’s suspension.*Campaigned to pressure a major U.S. hotel chain to cancel a conference organized by an extremist organization with documented ties to terrorists. Galvanized local citizens, business and political leaders, and interfaith groups to take action, resulting in the event’s cancellation.*Worked with Maryland’s General Assembly to pass a law removing an extremist group from serving on a Commission on Hate Crimes. Provided key witness testimony and secured Muslim American support for the bill.*Persuaded the California Legislature to remove three radical Islamist groups from a resolution honoring Muslim American achievements.*Worked with Sweden’s Parliament to push the European Union into sanctioning the sale of surveillance technologies to Iran, which uses equipment and software purchased from European companies to enforce draconian hijab laws and punish protestors.*Successfully fought the passage of a discriminatory anti-India resolution Chicago’s City Council.*Campaigned in state legislatures to introduce bills that monitor foreign influence in higher education. Combined over a decade of direct combat experience as a U.S. Army infantry platoon sergeant engaging Islamist terrorist groups. Holds a BA in Middle Eastern studies from the American Military University, providing insight into Middle East policy and counter-Islamism. Published at NY Post, Jerusalem Post, National Review, Washington Examiner, and other leading national and local media outlets.