NEW YORK (VINnews) — Cornell professor Russell Rickford sparked outrage after he spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally and termed Hamas’s brutal attack on Israeli civilians ‘exhilarating’.
Rickford, an associate history professor with a past of declared radical left-wing views is a ‘Historian of the black radical tradition’, according to his Twitter bio.
“Hamas has challenged the monopoly of violence,” Rickford said, “And in those first few hours, even as horrific acts were being carried out, many of which we would not learn about until later, there are many Gazans of good will, many Palestinians of conscience, who abhor violence, as do you, as do I. Who abhor the targeting of civilians, as do you, as do I,” Rickford said during the rally. “Who were able to breathe, they were able to breathe for the first time in years. It was exhilarating. It was energizing. And 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.”
He added: “What has Hamas done? Hamas has shifted the balance of power. Hamas has punctured the illusion of invincibility. That’s what they have done. You don’t have to be a Hamas supporter to recognize that,” Rickford said. “Hamas has changed the terms of the debate. Israeli officials are right — nothing will be the same again.”
After the exposure of Rickford statements, he issued a brief clarification in which he reiterated his viewpoint. He stated, “I was referring to those initial hours of breaking down the apartheid wall, which appears to symbolize resistance and a new phase in the Palestinian people’s struggle.”
The university’s president, Martha Pollack, responded to these remarks, saying, “The brutal attacks resulted in the loss of innocent lives, causing immeasurable pain and challenging our fundamental understanding of humanity. Deliberately targeting and killing innocent civilians epitomizes terrorism.” However, Pollack did not reveal whether any action would be taken against the lecturer.
Source: VosIzNeias
