Cornell student arrested for threatening Jewish classmates; rising antisemitism concerns nationwide.
A Cornell University student, Patrick Dai, was arrested in New York for making violent threats against Jewish classmates. The threats were posted on the website Greekrank, where a user using the name “hamas” threatened to harm Jewish students, including shooting them. The FBI charged Dai with making threats to kill or injure others through interstate communications, which can lead to up to five years in prison. He is scheduled to appear in court in Syracuse.
Dai’s threats mentioned bringing a gun to campus, assaulting Jewish women, and harming Jewish infants. The threats were particularly directed at a building on campus that houses a kosher cafeteria and is adjacent to the Cornell Jewish Center. Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her commitment to combating hate and bias.
The incident comes in the midst of rising antisemitic incidents in the country, with FBI Director Christopher Wray noting that antisemitic abuse is at “historic levels.” The Biden administration has announced efforts to combat antisemitism and hate speech on campuses. The Israel-Gaza conflict has contributed to tensions on U.S. campuses, leading to various incidents, including protests and controversial messages being projected.
