What’s Happening:
Emotions are running high after terrorists slaughtered more than 1,200 unsuspecting Israelis earlier this month. Most rational people have condemned the violent attack that murdered women and children in their homes.
Despite condemnation of the attack from world leaders down to everyday citizens, there are millions of people around the world who support the terrorists. This level of sick support for Hamas terrorists is hitting home in America as people with influence over youth are praising the terrorists.
One college professor was proudly spewing his excitement over the killing of innocent people. And his vile words were caught on camera.
From the Daily Caller:
A Cornell University professor called Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attacks against Israel “energizing” and “exhilarating” during a Sunday campus rally in Ithaca, New York.
Russell Rickford, an associate professor at Cornell, was shown praising the terrorists in a video posted on X. He proudly claimed that Hamas has “shifted the balance of power” and “punctured the illusion of invincibility” of Israel.
The video shows him surrounded by people of varying ages who cheered as he exclaimed, “I was exhilarated.”
His words in full were confusing as he stood before a crowd of people, one with a sign that said “Stand with Palestine! End the Occupation Now.” He claimed that he and the people of Palestine “abhor violence” and the people there “were able to breathe for the first time in years!”
Someone may say they despise terrorist acts but by describing those acts as exciting or energizing does match such a claim. This professor has associations that many Americans may find frightening.
Rickford’s areas of study include post-World War II African-American political culture, transnational social movements and the “Black Radical Tradition,” according to Cornell University’s website. The professor is also a card-carrying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, according to The Ithaca Voice.
Rickford has a history of blaming Israel for past terrorist attacks, according to ProfessorWatch.org. The outlet has reported that he wrote that Israel bore full responsibility for the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. It also noted how he has spoken at other anti-Israel events.
The video from the Rally where Rickford was ranting against Israel also showed the crowd chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will soon be free.” This has been established as an outcry to wipe Israel off the map.
Key Takeaways:
- Elite college professor calls Hamas terrorist attacks “exhilarating.”
- This professor has a history of blaming Israel for terrorist attacks.
- He claims the deaths of civilians have “shifted the balance of power.”
Source: Daily Caller