Campus Police Deployed to Jewish Center at Cornell University Following Online Antisemitic Threats

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After witnessing the appearance of menacing messages on an online forum this past Sunday, the administration at Cornell University promptly dispatched its campus police to the Center for Jewish Living.

Martha E. Pollack, the President of Cornell University, released an official statement acknowledging a sequence of “egregious, antisemitic messages” that directly threatened the university’s Jewish population and specified the Center for Jewish Living by address. “Such threats of violence are wholly unacceptable and those responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” stated Pollack. “Our paramount concern remains the safety of our community, and we shall persist in making that our priority.”

Cornell University’s Police Department has commenced an investigation and has also alerted the Federal Bureau of Investigation about a prospective hate crime.

Pollack confirmed that the website hosting these messages has no association with the academic institution located in Ithaca, New York, approximately 227 miles northwest of New York City. “The deep-seated impact of antisemitism on our Jewish students, faculty, and staff, as well as the broader Cornell community, is tangible and real. Such bigotry will find no place at Cornell,” Pollack remarked.

The provocative online posts appear to have been incited by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and have understandably alarmed Cornell’s Jewish community during the third week of the hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

Immediate criticism of these unsettling messages has also come from state authorities. New York Governor Kathy Hochul took to social media platform X to denounce the “repugnant and hateful posts” as part of a concerning trend observed on academic campuses. She stated that the New York State Police are undertaking measures to reinforce student safety, although the credibility of the threats remains unverified.

Governor Hochul also conveyed her discussions with academic leaders statewide, reiterating that both state government and law enforcement will persist in their commitment to safeguard campuses and their communities. “While we staunchly support the principles of free speech and peaceful assembly, it must be absolutely clear that we have no tolerance for acts that incite violence or harass others,” Hochul announced.

Similarly, New York Attorney General Letitia James has labeled the threats directed at the Jewish community as “utterly appalling.” She further emphasized, “There should be no room for antisemitism or any form of violence. Educational institutions must continue to be sanctuaries for our students,” in her social media post on platform X.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Antisemitic Threats at Cornell University

More about Antisemitic Threats at Cornell University

• Cornell University Official Website
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Hate Crimes Overview
• New York State Police Official Website
• Cornell University Police Department
• U.S. Department of Justice on Hate Crimes
• Office of the New York Attorney General
• Office of the Governor of New York State
• Overview of the Israel-Hamas Conflict
• Center for Jewish Living at Cornell University