A Columbia Journalism School alumnus sparked a heated debate among alumni after referring to Gaza protesters as “murderous crackpots” and “pro-terror wack jobs.” His comments were met with outrage and accusations of hate speech by fellow graduates, leading to an administrator’s intervention to maintain civility. The incident highlights the growing tensions surrounding the Middle East conflict on college campuses.
There has been a growing number of student protests at Columbia University and other campuses over the Israel-Hamas war. In response, universities should enforce their own student conduct codes and only ask for police help when a crime has been committed. This would avoid the botched responses that have been seen on some campuses, where universities have simultaneously sought the arrest of students and imposed suspensions and expulsions without going through their normal disciplinary process. Universities must stand behind their students’ right to peaceful protest and support the educational principles of encouraging First Amendment protected discourse. They have the tools to address hateful, racist, sexist, anti-Semitic conduct that does not rise to the level of criminal conduct. They also have the tool of law enforcement in the event of any criminal conduct or threats of violence. Teaching how to use the right tools for the right situation is a foundation of good education. It’s time for universities to have their own teaching moment.
New York Republican Reps. Mike Lawler and Anthony D’Esposito, along with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, joined actor Michael Rappaport and radio show host Sid Rosenberg to express outrage over antisemitic protests on college campuses. Lawler demanded the resignation or removal of university presidents who fail to take action, calling the protests the most disgraceful acts he has witnessed.
Robert Kraft, a prominent alumnus and benefactor of Columbia University, has withdrawn his support due to the university’s inability to address the growing anti-Semitism on campus. Protests by students demanding the university cut ties with Israel have turned violent, prompting Kraft to express concerns about the safety of students and staff.
A panel of experts convened at the University of Massachusetts has raised concerns about the increasing prevalence of hate speech and attacks on journalists ahead of upcoming global elections. They argue that these threats are more pressing than those posed by artificial intelligence.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent speech, accusing him of spreading hate and discrimination. Stalin claimed that Modi was attempting to whip up religious sentiments and avoid defeat by appealing to divisive tactics.
A Russian court has convicted and sentenced Andy Stone, the spokesperson for Meta, to six years in prison in absentia for justifying terrorism. The charges stem from Stone’s comments in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in which he announced temporary changes to Meta’s hate speech policy to allow for certain forms of political expression that would normally violate the company’s rules. The Russian authorities have since outlawed Meta as an extremist organization and blocked Facebook and Instagram in Russia. Stone, who is based in the United States, was initially charged with calling for terrorist activity, public calls for extremist activity, and publicly justifying terrorism, but the first two charges were dropped in the final version of the indictment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a series of Islamophobic attacks, accusing the Congress party of plotting to rob Hindu women of their mangalsutras. He has also referred to Muslims as “those who breed more children” and “infiltrators”. These statements are not only offensive and divisive, but they are also false. The Congress manifesto makes no mention of confiscating mangalsutras, and there is no evidence to support the claim that Muslims are planning to take over India. Modi’s rhetoric is a desperate attempt to polarize voters and distract from his government’s failures on the economy, unemployment, and inflation.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams denounced anti-Semitic incidents on the campus of Columbia University, including students holding signs targeting Jewish students and chanting support for the terrorist group Hamas. The mayor ordered the NYPD to investigate and arrest any violators of the law, but noted that officers would only respond upon request from university officials.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has denounced antisemitism and hate speech at ongoing protests at Columbia University. Adams instructed the NYPD to investigate any violations of law and condemned specific examples of hate speech, including signs targeting Jewish students and chants supporting Hamas. The university has increased security measures and arrested over 100 protesters, while Representative Elise Stefanik has called for the resignation of Columbia’s president for failing to protect Jewish students.
