Cornell University students angry against Israel “convicted” their college president of genocide during a mock trial they held over the weekend.
The Cornell Coalition for Mutual Liberation occupied a campus building Friday and chanted anti-Israel slogans before holding a “mock trial” of university President Martha Pollack on charges of “complicity in genocide” because of the university’s ties to Israel.
Just a few weeks ago, a student was arrested by the FBI after he threatened to shoot up a kosher dining hall and called for the killing of all Jewish people at Cornell University. However, the horrific ordeal has not dampened anti-Israel sentiment on campus.
The demonstrators were joined by many other students in the “die-in” – as well as the university’s Students for Justice in Palestine department.
The chanting students also reportedly went into university rooms, disrupting other students studying for final exams.
The Cornell Coalition for Mutual Liberation occupied a campus building Friday and chanted anti-Israel slogans before holding a “mock trial” of university President Martha Pollack on charges of “complicity in genocide.”
The demonstrators were joined by many other students in the “die-in” – as well as the university’s Students for Justice in Palestine department
On Friday, they occupied Day Hall on campus – where they remained until Saturday.
Organizers wrote on social media: “As of December 2nd, 1 p.m., still no update from the university.” “We will continue the occupation until we have a date to meet with Cornell CFO Christopher Cowen.”
During the “trial,” students found that President Pollack was “guilty” of genocide and apartheid because the university did business with Israeli-backed companies.
They created a cardboard cutout of Pollack and placed her likeness next to “Money Bags.” Pro-Palestine students surrounded the effigy with flags and signs.
The group called on the university to comply with a student boycott, divestment and sanctions resolution – and said the school was “implicated in Israel’s violations of international law.”
The demonstrators were also reported to the dean’s office for disrupting students preparing for final exams.
During the mock trial, a cardboard cutout of the college president is seen next to “money bags” held by angry anti-Israel students
Organizers wrote on social media: “As of December 2nd, 1 p.m., still no update from the university.” We will continue the occupation until we have an appointment with Cornell CFO Christopher Cowen.
Last month, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered state police to increase patrols on college campuses after a series of horrific threats were posted on an unofficial messaging board at Cornell University.
Hochul met with Jewish students at the upstate Ivy League college after they were violently threatened over the weekend by anti-Semites who, among other things, encouraged others to “cut their throats.”
The governor said she was “inspired by the students … who are showing incredible strength and unity in response to vile anti-Semitic threats.”
Cornell — and many other college campuses — have seen a rise in anti-Semitic activity since Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
Anti-Semitic graffiti was sprayed on campus sidewalks, and previously a professor, now on leave, publicly described the Hamas terrorist attack as “exhilarating” and “stimulating.”
A series of vile comments targeting Cornell Hillel’s kosher dining hall appeared on a university message board.
A flag of free Palestine hangs in Cornell
Cornell students protesting Israel and the university’s involvement with companies that do business with Israel occupied a campus building Friday
One post threatening sexual violence against Jewish women said: “The genocidal fascist Zionist regime will be destroyed.”
Another took specific aim at the Hillel House: “The Jewish House at Cornell is another literal and symbolic form of apartheid and genocide on campus.” It stands on land that was violently stolen from indigenous people whose identities have been erased .
“It enforces strict dietary and religious customs. “In my opinion, it should be demolished 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” was coming and told them they were “human animals” who “deserve the death of a pig.”
Cornell Hillel said it was aware of the threats and warned students to “avoid the building out of an abundance of caution.” Campus police provide additional security in the building.
Rabbi Ari Weiss, executive director of Cornell Hillel: “Students are afraid. They’re worried about their safety.”
Cornell President Martha E. Pollack wrote a letter to students about the threats.
“Threats of violence are absolutely intolerable and we will work to ensure that the person(s) who posted them are punished to the fullest extent of the law,” she wrote.
“We will not tolerate anti-Semitism at Cornell University…the virulence and destructiveness of anti-Semitism when it is real and has a profound impact on Jewish students, faculty and staff, and the entire Cornell community.”
“This incident highlights the importance of combating the forces that divide us and drive us to hate.” “That cannot be what defines us at Cornell.”
The university’s president added that she had contacted the FBI about the possible hate crime and that Cornell police were actively investigating the incident.