New York Democratic Rep. Richie Torres spoke out about “horrifying” anti-Semitism at Cornell University on Sunday night, following a series of threats against New York University’s Jewish community.
“The anti-Semitism on the Cornell University Discussion Forum is horrifying,” Torres, who represents New York City’s Bronx borough, wrote on Sunday, calling on academics to address anti-Semitism on campus.
“Threat of violence against Jewish students. Dehumanization and ‘elimination’ of Jews as ‘rats’ and ‘excrement.'” It advocates the genocidal destruction of both Jews and the Jewish state. ”
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“Academia can no longer turn a blind eye to the growing rot of anti-Semitism on America’s college campuses,” the Bronx Democrat continued.
In a second post, Torres praised Cornell University President Martha Pollack for “unequivocally condemning anti-Semitism.”
“Credit where credit is due,” Torres continued, sharing Pollack’s statement.
Pollack denounced “horrible anti-Semitic messages” sent to the university’s online bulletin board.
Rep. Richie Torres, D-New York, called the anti-Semitism on campus at Cornell University “horrifying” Sunday night. (John Michael Larsch/Fox News Digital)
Pollack said police reported the threat to the FBI and flagged it as a possible hate crime.
“Threats of violence are completely unacceptable and we will work to ensure that those who post threats of violence are punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Pollack said. “Our immediate focus is and will continue to be to keep our community safe. We will not tolerate anti-Semitism at Cornell University.”
“Our students are always our top priority and we have done and will continue to do everything we can to ensure their safety. We will update you as soon as we receive any updates. , we will continue to keep you informed,” the Cornell Center for Jewish Life wrote in an email. community.
Torres, a vocal supporter of Israel, on Saturday slammed the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for organizing against him in the wrong Congressional district over his stance on Israel.
“DSA is organizing against me. In the wrong Congressional district!” Torres wrote. “The Chase Bank at 5581 Broadway is not in my district, it’s in the neighboring district.”
“DSA is a bunch of trust fund babies and hipsters who know nothing about the Bronx, and they’ve never won a Bronx race simply because they don’t know anything,” the congressman continued.
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“DSA’s appeal is limited to white gentrifiers,” he added. “It doesn’t help communities of color.”
The threat was posted on a website unaffiliated with the university and targeted 104 West, which houses the Jewish Life Center on campus.
Cornell University’s Stephen K. Grinspoon Grinspoon Hillel Center and Winifred A. Grinspoon Hillel Center said they were aware of the threat in social media posts, and the Cornell University Police Department responded to 104 He said he was monitoring the situation at the scene in West.
“At this time, we advise students, faculty and staff to avoid the building out of an abundance of caution,” the post reads.
An anti-Israel sign reads “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free” at a protest at Tulane University. (Credit: Ryan Zamos)
“Evidence suggests that the targeted location was intentionally chosen due to the perpetrator’s bias,” the Cornell University Police Department said in a warning to the community.
The threat came days after Russell Rickford, associate professor of history at Cornell University, said he was “excited” and “energized” by the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. .Rickford is currently on leave of absence and the university is This was confirmed to Fox News Digital.
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“Hamas has changed the balance of power,” Rickford said at a rally in Ithaca, New York, on October 17. “Hamas has shattered the illusion of invincibility. That’s what they’ve done. Yes. There’s no need to do that.” “If you’re a Hamas supporter you’ll recognize that. You don’t have to be a Hamas supporter to recognize that. Hamas has changed the terms of the debate.”
“It was refreshing and energizing,” Rickford continued. “And they wouldn’t be human if they weren’t exhilarated by this challenge to the monopoly of violence, this shift to the balance of power. I was exhilarated.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice have announced new campus legislation across the country in the Biden administration’s efforts to combat an “alarming increase” in anti-Semitic incidents and threats against Jewish communities at schools and universities across the country. We are cooperating with enforcement agencies. Regarding the Israel-Hamas war, a White House official told Fox News on Monday.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed reporting.
