Vicious Threats Against Jews at Cornell

Over the weekend, social media online at Cornell University was hit with graphic and vicious threats to kill and rape Jews by unidentified individuals identifying themselves as Hamas supporters. The news has sparked fear and outrage. Cornell's president, Martha Pollack, has strongly condemned the threats.

I am cross-posting the report by the Cornell Sun (campus paper) since it is quite detailed. (Viewer warning: The words are disturbing.)

While I am gratified that Cornell's president has quickly condemned this, with all due respect, she should not be shocked. Anti-Semitic incidents and expressions of hate toward Jews have been going on for years and has been well documented including on this site.

Consider this:

In the spring of 2017, the Cornell chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)  disrupted a pro-Israel event on campus.

In November 2018, over the course of 9 days, 3 swastikas appeared on the Cornell campus.

In April 2022, the pro-Israel organization, Canary Mission, issued a 25-page report on how SJP at Cornell wages a campaign of intimidation against supporters of Israel on campus.

Subsequent to the horrors carried out by Hamas on October 7, Cornell professor Russell Rickford told a group of students that he was "exhilarated" and "energized" by what Hamas had done.

On October 11, 4 days after the Hamas attacks, SJP and Cornell Progressives issued a joint statement blaming Israel for the attacks.

In addition, the Amcha Initiative, which is linked on this site, has a compilation of anti-Semitic incidents on US university campuses including a page on Cornell, which can be accessed here. 

Frankly, I am weary of university administrators prattling on about how the latest incident violates their values of inclusivity, blah blah blah. When they start removing students and professors who cheer on the barbaric butchers of Hamas, then I will take them seriously. 

*Update: (11-1-23) A Cornell student identified as Patrick Dai has been charged with making the online threats.