Staff Reports
On Tuesday night, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York announced that a Cornell University student, Patrick Dai, was arrested for posting disturbing threats online. According to the press release, Dai allegedly posted messages calling for the deaths of Jewish people and threatening violence against them. He even mentioned shooting up a specific dining hall on campus that caters to Kosher diets. These threats included mentions of stabbing, slitting throats, raping, throwing off cliffs, and beheading Jewish individuals.
DOJ Names Student Arrested for Making Threats Against Jewish Students at Cornell https://t.co/Xv4phijZ2v
— D.R. Couric (@DRCouric) November 1, 2023
These are truly horrifying allegations, and if found guilty, Dai could face up to 5 years in prison, a hefty fine, and years of supervised release. It’s important to remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but the evidence against Dai seems incredibly strong. It’s deeply unsettling to think that someone would harbor such intense hatred and make violent threats against a specific religious group.
This incident at Cornell University highlights the ongoing issue of anti-Semitism in our society. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in anti-Semitic incidents across the country, even on college campuses. It’s troubling to see this kind of hate being directed toward the Jewish community, who have faced persecution throughout history. We must stand together against anti-Semitism and any form of hatred or discrimination.
It’s also worth noting that this arrest comes just days after a history professor at Cornell, Russell Rickford, made disturbing comments celebrating a terrorist attack against Israel. Rickford claimed the attack was “exhilarating” and “energizing.” It’s deeply concerning that someone in a position of influence would express support for acts of terror. This incident at Cornell University serves as a reminder that we must remain vigilant against hate and extremism in all its forms.
