Congresswoman calls for removal of Cornell professor for "anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas" remarks.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, NY-24, sent a letter Friday to Cornell University President Martha Pollack calling for the resignation or termination, of Professor Russel Rickford following his comments at a rally in the Ithaca Commons Sunday Oct, 15, which Tenney described as “anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas.”

Hamas militants sparked the latest round of violence between Palestine and Israel with a deadly surprise attack on Oct. 7, killing over 1,400 people and capturing hundreds more.

Rickford stated that he was initially “exhilarated” by Hamas’s attack on Israel, claiming that the group “challenged the monopoly of violence,” and stated “…if they weren’t exhilarated by this challenge to the monopoly of violence, by this shifting of the balance of power then they would not be human. I was exhilarated,” according to the Cornell Daily Sun.

New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-53, also responded to Rickford's comments in am Oct. 17 letter to Pollack, calling his comments "repugnant, reckless and reprehensible."

"Rickford should be held accountable for his hateful comments and that he should face consequences for his statements," Griffo said.

Griffo does not represent Ithaca.

Tenney stated in her letter to Pollack that Anti-Semitisim should not be tolerated in academia, or anywhere in civilized society.

“Professor Rickford holds a position within the university that allows him to mold and influence young minds,” she wrote. “This position demands a higher standard of behavior, one that is free from anti-Semitic rhetoric and the vocal support of terrorism.”

Rickford apologized for the “horrible choice of words” in a statement published in the Cornell Daily Sun Oct. 18, in which he stated that his speech “was intended to stress grassroots African American, Jewish and Palestinian traditions of resistance to oppression.”

That same day, a statement from Pollack and Chair of the universities Board of Trustees, Kraig H. Kayser, claimed the university is “taking this incident seriously” and is reviewing it consistent with its procedures.

Neither Rickford, nor the university immediately responded to messages seeking comment on Tenney's remarks.

Tenney argued that if Rickford’s views “speak in direct opposition to all we stand for at Cornell,” and “demonstrate no regard whatsoever for humanity,” as Pollack stated in her letter to the Cornell community distributed Oct. 16, then Professor Rickford must resign or be fired, and requested the university update her on the situation no later than Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Tenney's congressional district does not include Tompkins County.

This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Congresswoman Claudia Tenney calls for removal of Cornell professor