We knew that the pro-Hamas extremists were coming back. They started immediately on the first day, breaking windows, spray painting buildings, and vandalizing property. This tweet hasn’t aged well.
A happy first day of classes to our Cornellians! 📚 #CornellWelcome pic.twitter.com/ajc4IlQnpA
— Cornell University (@Cornell) August 26, 2024
The first day was not as good as the administrators had hoped.
Anti-Israel protesters defaced Cornell University property in Ithaca (New York) and staged a mass demonstration on Monday’s first day of class, despite efforts by administrators to avoid a repeat chaos of spring.
On Monday morning the red spray-painted messages “Israel Bombs, Cornell Pays” and “Blood Is on Your Hands” were scrawled along the entrance to Day Hall, and the glass door had been broken.
Some of their work:
Breaking: “Israel bombs, Cornell pays” and “Blood is on your hands” were spray painted in red on Cornell’s main administrative building along with the front door glass smashed.
Today is the first day of the fall semester at Cornell, and the campus is already falling into chaos. pic.twitter.com/a1eZxfOy1D
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) August 26, 2024
The protesters attempted to explain to their school newspaper, the Cornell Daily Sun why they believed violence was a valid way to promote their cause. They wanted to remain anonymous because they were cowards.
We had to accept the fact that we could only make ourselves heard by focusing on the one thing the administration of the university cares most about the property.
The activists who requested anonymity wrote: “With the beginning of the new academic year, Cornell administration is desperately trying to maintain a façade of normalcy, knowing that they have worked tirelessly since last semester to uphold Cornell as a fascist classist imperial machine.”
We’ve heard it before: the administration made strong-worded announcements that people would be held responsible.
The [President Michael] Kotlikoff, and the [Interim Provost John] Siliciano, wrote: “Acts or violence, prolonged occupation of buildings, and destruction of property, including graffiti, will not be tolerated. Public safety will respond immediately.”
In a statement released on Monday, Vice President of University Relations Joel Malina denounced the graffiti. Malina said that Cornell Police is investigating the vandals of Day Hall and may bring criminal charges against them.
Malina wrote: “We are horrified by the graffiti spraypainted and the glass that was shattered overnight along the entrance to Day Hall.” Public safety will respond immediately to any acts of violence, prolonged occupation of buildings, or property damage, including graffiti.
We’ll see.
