Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) announced an increase in security at Cornell University amid a spike in antisemitic threats against Jewish students.
Roughly 22% of Cornell's student body is Jewish, and the school has seen a major spike in antisemitic threats since the beginning of the war in Gaza this month. Hochul visited the campus on Monday in a show of solidarity.
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"I came here in person with one strong message: that we will not tolerate threats or hatred or antisemitism or any kind of hatred that makes people feel vulnerable and exposes people and makes them feel insecure in a place that they should be enjoying their campus life without fear that someone could cause them harm," Hochul told students. "But I want them to know they're not alone, that they have the state of New York backing them."
"No one should be afraid to walk from their dorm, or their dining hall, to a classroom," she said. "The conversation I had was powerful — students who are anxious, who are fearful, but they have a sense of community as well. And a sense that they will get through this. They are a strong group of young people who deserve to have the support of an entire campus and, indeed, the entire state to help them get through these difficult times."
My message is clear: We will not tolerate threats, antisemitism or any kind of hatred in New York State. pic.twitter.com/oTVveWXaIY
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) October 30, 2023
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The FBI and local police are also looking into threats against Jewish students, most of which were made online in forums unaffiliated with Cornell. Authorities said the forum posts depicted graphic threats of homicide, sexual violence, and comparisons to animals, CBS News reported.
"The FBI is aware of the threats made to Cornell University's Jewish community. We take all threats seriously and are working closely with Cornell and our law enforcement partners at every level to determine the credibility, share information, and take appropriate investigative action," an FBI spokesperson told the outlet. "We encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement. Nothing is more important than the safety of our communities, and we will not tolerate violence motivated by hate and extremism."