A woman walks by a Cornell University sign on the Ivy League school’s campus in Ithaca, New York, on Jan. 14, 2022. Cornell University administrators dispatched campus police to a Jewish center after threatening statements appeared on a discussion board Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
OAN’s Elizabeth Volberding
2:10 PM – Tuesday, October 31, 2023
New York State Police have identified a “person of interest” in connection to a suspect who was making anti-Semitic threats against Jewish students at Cornell University.
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On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) made a statement, saying that a “person of interest” has been identified by law enforcement in relation to threats of mass shootings and anti-Semitic violence at Cornell University.
“This individual is currently in New York State Police custody for questioning,” Hochul said on X, formerly Twitter.
Law enforcement has identified a person of interest in relation to threats of a mass shooting and antisemitic violence at Cornell University. This individual is currently in New York State Police custody for questioning.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) October 31, 2023
“When I met with Cornell students yesterday, I promised them New York State would do everything possible to find the perpetrator who threatened a mass shooting and anti-Semitic violence on campus,” Hochul said in a statement. “Earlier today, law enforcement identified a person of interest as part of the investigation and this individual is currently in custody of the New York State Police for questioning.”
New York State Police verified that the person of interest is being questioned further, informing citizens that this is “an active investigation, and we refer you to the Cornell University PD for further information.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Hochul shared a message of “solidarity” to the community following the day that she visited Jewish students at the university’s Center for Jewish Living who have received several death threats while the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict continues.
In the message, Hochul declared that there is “zero tolerance” for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, or “hate of any kind.”
Additionally, Hochul said that she requested Judge Jonathon Lippman, the former chief judge of New York State Court of Appeals, to hold an independent third party review of City University of New York (CUNY) policies and standards in connection to antisemitism and discrimination.
“We will take on the antisemitism we have seen on college campuses. The problem didn’t begin with the weeks following October 7th attacks. It’s been growing on a number of campuses,” she said. “While his assessment will be focused on CUNY, his recommendations will be a roadmap for institutions across the state and the country. My commitment to your safety is unwavering, but we can’t do it alone.”
The governor also made a reference to the protests that took place in New York and around the nation after George Floyd passed away in Minneapolis in 2020, asking activists where the “allies” of Jewish New Yorkers were now.
“Hate crimes after Muslims rose in the aftermath of 9/11,” Hochul said. “And New Yorkers of all faiths stood up for them. Hate crimes against Asian Americans rose during the pandemic, and New Yorkers of all origins stood up for them. And after George Floyd was murdered, New Yorkers of all races stood up for Black Lives Matter. Today, Jewish New Yorkers are experiencing the greatest increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes in decades. And I must ask, where are their allies now?”
Hochul, who recently visited Israel to observe the October 7th tragedies by Hamas against Jewish citizens firsthand, claimed that she asked for humanitarian help for Gaza. She called for the release of hostages and criticized videos portraying “heartless protestors” in New York tearing down posters of Jewish hostages held captive by Hamas.
Regarding Jewish New Yorkers with relatives who are currently missing, Hochul expressed that “they suffer again at the image of their loved ones’ photo being ripped down by heartless protesters as though their lives don’t matter.”
“This cruelty by New Yorkers against New Yorkers must stop,” the governor said. “I’m also making sure that our law enforcement is focused and has the resources to identify and stop criminal behavior and hate crimes. Violators will be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Today I’m calling all New Yorkers to action. Stand up for what’s right. Look out for your fellow New Yorkers. If you see someone being harassed on the street or in your neighborhood, don’t let them be alone,” she said. “We cannot let the fervor and passion of our beliefs devolve into a blind righteousness that cannot see differing viewpoints and the safety and security of New Yorkers cannot and will not be threatened without consequences.”
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