The FBI is investigating possible anti-Semitic hate crimes at Cornell University after numerous threats were made against the Ivy League’s Jewish students at the weekend.
On Sunday, university president Martha Pollack wrote to the campus community to say that violent threats to Jewish students were unacceptable and that she had contacted the FBI.
‘Threats of violence are absolutely intolerable, and we will work to ensure that the person or people who posted them are punished to the full extent of the law,’ her letter said.
On Monday, the FBI confirmed it had been notified about the threats and said it was working closely with Cornell and other law enforcement partners to investigate the potential hate crimes.
Cornell University president Martha Pollack (pictured) contacted the FBI on Sunday after a series of threats against Jewish students
Cornell (pictured) – and many other college campuses – has seen a rise in anti-Semitic activity since Hamas’ October 7 terror attack on Israel
‘We take all threats seriously and are working closely with Cornell and our law enforcement partners at every level to determine the credibility, share information, and take appropriate investigative action,’ wrote the agency in a statement.
‘Nothing is more important than the safety of our communities and we will not tolerate violence motivated by hate and extremism.’
Messages posted Sunday to a web page that is technically ‘unaffiliated’ with in upstate New York university threatened the school’s Jewish community, and specifically targeted the Center for Jewish Living, where the campus kosher dining hall is located.
One post threatened to shoot Jewish students on campus, others called for more graphic violence, a third said the Jewish student center should be eliminated altogether.
Cornell – and many other college campuses – have seen a rise in anti-Semitic activity since Hamas’ October 7 terror attack on Israel.
Anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted onto campus sidewalks last week, and prior to that a professor – who has now taken a leave of absence – publicly called the Hamas terror attack ‘exhilarating’ and ‘energizing.’
On Sunday, a series of vile comments directed at the Cornell Hillel’s kosher dining hall began to pop up on a university messaging board.
One post, which threatened sexual violence against Jewish women, read: ‘The genocidal fascist Zionist regime will be destroyed.’
Another took specific aim at the Hillel house: ‘The Jewish house on Cornell is yet another literal and symbolic form of apartheid and genocide on campus. It stands on land forcibly stolen from Native people who had their identity erased. It enforces strict dietary and religious customs. In my opinion it should be torn down and the illegal settlers relocated.’
A third, posted by someone with the username ‘kill jews,’ threatened to ‘shoot up 104 west,’ which is the kosher dining hall on campus. ‘Glory to hamas!’ wrote the user.
Other messages warned campus Jews that ‘jihad is coming’ and told them they are ‘human animals’ who ‘deserve a pigs death.’
Cornell Hillel said it was aware of the threats and cautioned students to ‘avoid the building out of an abundance of caution.’ Campus police are providing extra security to the building.
Rabbi Ari Weiss, the executive director of Cornell Hillel: ‘Students are scared. They’re concerned for their safety.’
On Monday, the White House announced a larger mobilization effort of the Justice, Homeland Security, and Education Departments to combat hate speech on campuses across the nation.
President Joe Biden told ABC’s Mary Bruce that he is very ‘concerned’ about the rise in antisemitism that’s taking place in the wake of the October 7 terror attack in Israel.
A New York State Police Department cruiser is parked in front of Cornell University’s Center for Jewish Living, in Ithaca, NY, on Monday, October 30
Spray-painted messages such as ‘Zionism equals Racism’ and ‘Israel is Fascist’ began appearing on the sidewalks of Cornell University’s upstate New York campus on Wednesday
During a Monday White House press briefing, Karine Jean-Pierre said the president was keeping the Cornell community in mind.
‘President Biden has been clear, we can’t stand by and stand silent in the face of hate. We must without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must also without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia,’ she said from the podium.
DOJ and DHS have shared public safety information with campus law enforcement officers, and Justice has expedited the passage of antisemitic complaints to its Civil Rights division.
On Monday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul visited with Jewish students at Cornell and held a news conference with president Pollack.
‘I came here in person with one strong message, that we will not tolerate threats or hatred, or antisemitism, or any kind of hatred that makes people feel vulnerable and exposes people and makes them feel insecure in a place that they should be enjoying their campus life without fear that someone could cause them harm,’ she said.