Anti-Israel protesters vandalized Cornell University on the first day of fall classes, shattering glass and spray-painting messages as tensions over Middle East politics reignited on Ivy League campuses.
Anti-Israel protesters quickly resumed their activism at Ivy League campuses, vandalizing Cornell University on the first day of fall classes. On Tuesday, demonstrators shattered a glass door and defaced property with red spray paint, scrawling messages like “Israel bombs, Cornell pays” and “Blood is on your hands,” according to the *Cornell Daily Sun*.
Around 150 protesters, chanting the controversial slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” marched across campus on Monday. They also hung a banner reading “Peoples school coming soon” using zip ties. The police arrived 20 minutes later, requesting student identification for possible disciplinary action. Demonstration leaders then urged the crowd to disperse, but officers warned that those who refused to cooperate could still face consequences, noting body cameras had recorded the events.
The protest was reportedly organized by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation (CML), which represents over 40 groups on and around Cornell, including the Arab Graduate Student Association, Students for Justice in Palestine, and the Young Democratic Socialists of America. In an Instagram post, CML targeted Interim Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff, implying he could be forced out if the university doesn't divest from certain holdings.
Cornell’s Vice President for University Relations, Joel Malina, condemned the vandalism, stating that violence and property damage would not be tolerated. Cornell Police are investigating the incident, and those responsible could face suspension or criminal charges.
This protest marks the first anti-Israel demonstration of the semester, following a series of such actions that began after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
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