‘Slit Their Throats’: Police On Scene At Cornell University Jewish Center After Violent Threats; University in Contact With FBI

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Cornell Center for Jewish Living / Facebook

Cornell Center for Jewish Living / Facebook

Police were on the scene and investigating at Cornell’s Center for Jewish Living in Ithaca, New York, on Sunday night after heinous threats to the building and to Jewish students were posted online, and University President Martha E. Pollack has contacted the FBI about “a potential hate crime.”

Screenshots hit social media Sunday of heinous messages posted in a Cornell University discussion forum over the weekend calling for the murder of Jewish students and making specific threats.

Among messages declaring “Allahuh Akbar” and “Glory to Hamas” and calling for slitting the throats of Jewish students over the war, one message specifically singled out the building at 104 West, which houses the kosher dining hall and Center for Jewish Living.

https://twitter.com/AnnieSun16/status/1718749046016221548

The Hillel Center warned students to stay away for their own safety.

The university issued a community warning confirming that the screenshots of threats posted online were real and urging the community to report “any suspected criminal activity” or to contact the University with any information on the threats.

Crime ALERT: Community Threat – City of Ithaca The Cornell University Police Department is investigating posts located on a website that contain threats of violence directed at religious groups across the campus. The posts were created on October 29, 2023. Evidence suggests the targeted locations were intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s bias. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cornell University Public Safety Communications Center at (607)255-1111. Cornell University Police urge the community to immediately report any suspected criminal activity they see by dialing 911 or utilizing the RAVE Guardian app.

The university also put out a statement from Pollack (in full below) confirming that campus police are investigating and will remain on site for the safety of the students, and that the FBI has been contacted.

Photos of anti-Israel and antisemitic graffiti were shared online from around Cornell only days ago.

The university was already in the news just in the last week after one of its professors, Russell Rickford, declared the October 7 terror attack on Israeli civilians “exhilarating” and “energizing” and he was quickly gone on a leave of absence.

Cornell Hillel’s website notes that “there are approximately 3,000 undergraduate and 500 graduate Jewish students at Cornell, comprising 22% of the student body.’

Statement from Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack.

Dear members of the Cornell community,

Earlier today, a series of horrendous, antisemitic messages threatening violence to our Jewish community and specifically naming 104 West — the home of the Center for Jewish Living — was posted on a website unaffiliated with Cornell. Law enforcement was immediately notified.

At this time, Cornell Police (CUPD) are on the scene and investigating. Police will continue to remain on site to ensure our students and community members are safe.

Cornell Police have also notified the FBI of a potential hate crime.

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. Our immediate focus is on keeping the community safe; we will continue to prioritize that.

We will not tolerate antisemitism at Cornell. During my time as president, I have repeatedly denounced bigotry and hatred, both on and off our campus. The virulence and destructiveness of antisemitism is real and deeply impacting our Jewish students, faculty and staff, as well as the entire Cornell community. This incident highlights the need to combat the forces that are dividing us and driving us toward hate. This cannot be what defines us at Cornell.

All of our community deserves to feel safe at Cornell. If you become aware of any threats to your safety or to the safety of the community, please contact CUPD at 607-255-1111. We also encourage you to download the RAVE Guardian app, which will enable you to report any safety concerns to CUPD in real time.

In the days ahead, we will work to reinforce a culture of trust, respect and safety at Cornell. Regardless of your beliefs, backgrounds or perspectives, I urge all of you to come together with the empathy and support for each other that we so greatly need in this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Martha E. Pollack
President

This is a developing story and may be updated.

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Caleb Howe is an editor and writer focusing on politics and media. Former managing editor at RedState. Published at USA Today, Blaze, National Review, Daily Wire, American Spectator, AOL News, Asylum, fortune cookies, manifestos, napkins, fridge drawings...