The NYU Law School student and bar association president who lost a job offer for praising this month’s Hamas attacks has doubled down on her comments in a bombshell interview.
Ryna Workman – a 24-year-old who uses the pronouns they/them – insisted they felt speaking out against Israel was a matter of standing up for “Palestinian human rights”, even after facing intense public outcry .
When asked if they would change their statement to students that the attacks were “necessary,” Workman refused to back down, and hours later he was seen covering Israeli hostage-taking posters with stickers calling for a strike in the school advertised.
They also declined to answer a query about possible feelings of mourning for murdered Israelis – before reiterating that she still stands by her previous pro-Hamas statements.
The next day, around 300 NYU students walked out of class to attend the same pro-Palestinian rally she had promoted, including Workman herself.
Scroll down for the video:
Instead of retracting her comments, Ryna Workman – a 24-year-old who uses the pronouns “they/them” – instead emphasized that they felt speaking out against Israel was a matter of advocating for “Palestinian human rights.”
When asked if they would change their statement to students that the attacks were “necessary,” Workman refused to back down, and hours later he was seen covering Israeli hostage-taking posters with stickers calling for a strike in the school advertised.
The next day, around 300 NYU students walked out of class to attend the same pro-Palestinian rally she had promoted, including Workman herself
Several protesters were seen holding anti-Semitic signs in Washington Square Park – which caught the attention of a pro-Israel demonstration that was gathering at the same time.
Less than a day earlier, Workman – who had previously written that Israel bore “full responsibility” for this month’s attacks – told ABC News that they would refuse to condemn Hamas.
“I will continue to advocate for the human rights of Palestinians and use every platform at my disposal to call for a ceasefire and end this occupation that is harming Palestinians,” said the non-binary law student.
“I think what I use my platform for and who I judge was pretty clear from my message,” she added after being asked if she wanted to retract her comments.
“I think I will continue to condemn apartheid and military occupation.”
In an interview with ABC News Live Prime host Linsey Davis, Workman was then asked if she would ever denounce Hamas for its actions, to which she replied, “I think what I use my platform for and who I condemn was over.” My message is pretty clear.”‘
When asked repeatedly whether she or others should feel sympathy for the more than 1,400 Israelis who have died, she deflected and instead said: “I will continue to use my voice to raise the voices of Palestinians and the struggles they are going through elevate.”
However, she added: “I think whether or not my sympathy is with the Israelis or the Palestinians is really not the issue here.”
“The question is: Will we demand an end to this genocide and a ceasefire?”
Just three days after the Hamas attacks, Workman wrote a statement in the law school’s Student Bar Association newsletter in which he blamed the current conflict entirely on Israel
The heated interview aired Tuesday night – and shortly after Workman and another NYU law student were filmed covering posters depicting hostage-takers in the Israel-Hamas war, before posting their own signs calling for a “national student strike.” was promoted for Palestine
The footage, which has since been shared on X and Instagram, shows Workman wearing the same outfit she appeared in on set at the ABC studio
The heated interview aired Tuesday night – and shortly after Workman and another NYU law student were filmed covering posters depicting hostage-takers in the Israel-Hamas war, before posting their own signs calling for a “national student strike.” was promoted for Palestine.
The footage, which has since been shared on X and Instagram, shows Workman wearing the same outfit she appeared in on set at the ABC studio.
At one point in the clip, the person filming the video confronts the two students and asks them to provide their names for future viewers of the now-viral clip.
However, Workman chooses to remain silent but continues to deface posters calling for the release of several Israeli children and seniors still being held against their will by Hamas.
The next morning, as the signs announced, hundreds of students gathered for the protest Workman specifically called for.
Dozens of Generation Z protesters were among the procession, seen waving pride flags and wearing kaffiyehs and demanding “freedom for Palestine” – and a “divestment” from Israel’s “genocidal regime.”
A woman was filmed proudly displaying a blatantly anti-Semitic sign to suggest that the world needed to be “cleansed” of Jews, while some students heard shouts of denigration that pointed to a worrying trend of hatred toward Jews in New York pointed out.
NYU spokesman John Beckman told on Wednesday that the school is working to verify the identities of those carrying the anti-Semitic signs.
At the same protest, a young Jewish man was chased by pro-Palestine supporters who refused to answer him when he asked if they supported Hamas.
The next morning, as the signs announced, hundreds of students gathered for the protest Workman specifically called for – including a woman who was shown to be proudly displaying a deeply anti-Semitic sign
“Your 9/11 is your 24/7,” read another sign at Wednesday’s protest, which also included workers
The young protester’s sign also read “f**k Israel.” She has yet to be identified
The school said it is working to verify the identities of the students with the offensive signs
Another protester with the same sign at the protest in Manhattan on Wednesday
NYPD police officers observe the protest in Washington Square Park on Wednesday
The students say they are demanding a “divestment” of NYU funds from Israel
In the midst of the protest, a handful of young Jewish men sang and prayed in the face of anti-Semitic signs
The young protesters shouted and chanted and were led by Workman, who promoted the event on her social media.
Just three days after the Hamas attacks, they wrote a statement in the law school’s Student Bar Association newsletter placing blame for the current conflict entirely on Israel.
The letter that Workman signed as president of the association expressed his full, undying support for the Palestinians.
It said: “This week, I wish first and foremost to express my unwavering and absolute solidarity with the Palestinians in their resistance to oppression on the path to liberation and self-determination.”
“Israel bears full responsibility for this enormous loss of life,” Workman continued. “This regime of state-sanctioned violence created the conditions that made resistance necessary.”
Immediately afterward, the Student Bar Association called for Workman to be removed as president — a process that will require multiple hearings.
Members also issued a statement saying that they had not “written, approved, or seen” any of Workman’s messages before they were sent, and that Workman’s words did not reflect the views of the group.
Workman — who uses “they/them” pronouns — promoted the event on her social media
The non-binary student is now facing dismissal from her position at the SBA – as the group revealed, “several students” have received “death threats” as a result of Workman’s post. (Pictured: NYU Student Services Building)
Of Wednesday’s strike, Workman said Tuesday: “I think this strike is an opportunity for students to find their voice again.” “And to feel the collective power that their voice has when they walk with more than just the students at their institution , but also with students on the other side.” [US]’
The newsletter also noted that Workman lost a job at the prestigious Chicago law firm Winston & Strawn, which withdrew a job offer to the student just hours after the letter was published.
Following Workman’s letter, the NYU Law Department also released a statement that attempted to “make several things clear on behalf of the NYU Law Department Board of Trustees and our law school as a whole.”
It added: “We want to say loud and clear to our community: Any statement that does not acknowledge this brutality does not reflect the values of NYU Law.”
Of Wednesday’s strike, Workman said Tuesday: “I think this strike is an opportunity for students to find their voice.”
“And to feel the collective power that their voice has as they walk not just with the students at their institution, as we will do at NYU, but with students across the country.”
As of Thursday, Workman is still president of the school’s Student Law Chamber.