Cornell University students in a rage against Israel “convicted” their university president of genocide during a mock trial they held this 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 for “complicity in genocide.”
Just weeks ago, a student was arrested by the FBI after threatening to shoot up a kosher dining hall and calling for the murder of all Jewish people at Cornell University. The terrifying ordeal, however, has not stopped anti-Israel sentiment on campus.
The demonstrators were joined by many other students for the 'die-in' – as well as the university's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
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 for “complicity in genocide”
The demonstrators were joined by many other students for the 'die-in' – as well as the university's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter
According to reports, the singing students also entered the lecture halls, disrupting other students who were studying for final exams.
On Friday they occupied the Day Hall on campus, where they stayed until Saturday.
Organizers wrote on social media: 'As of 1pm on December 2, still no update from the university. We will continue the occupation until we meet with Cornell CFO Christopher Cowen.”
During the 'trial', the students found President Pollack 'guilty' of genocide and apartheid because the university does business with Israeli-backed companies.
They made a cardboard cutout of Pollack and placed her likeness next to “money bags.” Pro-Palestinian students surrounded the effigy with flags and signs.
The group demanded that the university comply with student boycott, divestment and sanctions resolutions – saying the school is “involved in Israeli violations of international law.”
The protesters were also reported to the dean's office for disrupting students studying for final exams.
A cardboard cutout of the university president is seen next to 'money bags' during the mock trial, held by the raging anti-Israel students
Organizers wrote on social media: 'As of 1pm on December 2, still no update from the university. We will continue the occupation until we meet with Cornell CFO Christopher Cowen'
Last month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered state police to increase patrols on college campuses after a series of horrific threats were posted on an unofficial Cornell University message board.
Hochul met with Jewish students at the state's Ivy League university after they were violently threatened over the weekend by anti-Semites who encouraged others to, among other things, “slit their throats.”
The governor said she was “inspired by the students … who are showing incredible strength and unity in response to vicious anti-Semitic threats.”
Cornell — and many other college campuses — have seen an increase in anti-Semitic activity since Hamas's Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
Anti-Semitic graffiti was sprayed on campus sidewalks, prompting a professor — who has now taken a leave of absence — to publicly call the Hamas terror attack “exciting” and “enervating.”
A series of vile comments directed at Cornell Hillel's kosher dining hall appeared on the university's message board.
A free Palestinian flag hangs at Cornell
Cornell students protesting Israel and the university's involvement with companies doing business with Israel occupied a campus building Friday
One post, which threatened sexual violence against Jewish women, read: “The genocidal fascist Zionist regime will be destroyed.”
Another took aim specifically at the Hillel house: “The Jewish house at Cornell is yet another literal and symbolic form of apartheid and genocide on campus. It stands on land that has been forcibly stolen from indigenous people who have had their identities erased.
'It maintains strict dietary and religious practices. In my opinion, it should be demolished and the illegal settlers relocated.”
A third, posted by someone with the username “kill killing jews,” threatened to “shoot up 104 West,” 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 pig's death.”
Cornell Hillel said it was aware of the threats and warned students to “avoid construction out of an abundance of caution.” The campus police provide extra security for the building.
Rabbi Ari Weiss, director of Cornell Hillel: 'Students are afraid. They are concerned 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 do our best to ensure that the person or persons who posted them are punished to the full extent of the law,” she wrote.
“We will not tolerate anti-Semitism at Cornell… the virulence and destructive nature of anti-Semitism when it is real and deeply impacts Jewish students, faculty and staff, as well as the entire Cornell community.”
“This incident highlights the need to fight the forces that divide us and incite us to hatred. This cannot be what defines us at Cornell.”
The university president added that she had contacted the FBI about the possible hate crime and that Cornell police are actively investigating the incident.