Cornell prof who called Hamas attack ‘exhilarating’ is back on campus cheering on protests despite being on leave
The controversial Cornell University professor who described Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack as “exhilarating” and “energizing” has made a return to campus to cheer on its anti-Israel protesters despite still being on a leave of absence.
Russell Rickford, an associate history professor, was seen back at the upstate New York school behind a megaphone last week celebrating the students’ protest of the war in Gaza, which included ralliers setting up their own encampment Thursday in solidarity with the “tent city” at Columbia University in Manhattan.
Rickford, who took a leave of absence after apologizing for his comments about the Oct. 7 massacre, cheered the protesters and assured all supporters that they, too, could be part of the “liberated territory” even if they weren’t camping on the university lawn.
“The liberated territory is a concept. The liberated territory is in your head,” Rickford said at Thursday’s rally, according to the Cornell Daily Sun. “Anytime you are ready, you can become a resident, an inhabitant, a member of the occupied territory, of the forces of liberation.”
Rickford made the speech on campus despite still being on his leave of absence, according to a Cornell rep.
The university did not comment further on Rickford’s presence on campus or if it violated any rules.
Rickford did not respond to The Post’s request for comment Monday.
Amanda Silberstein, 20, said she was shocked to see the professor back on campus leading student chants with a megaphone.
“It’s crazy that he’s still allowed to come on campus,” Silberstein told The Post. “Clearly he’s able to walk with impunity around here with the administration turning a blind eye.”
Siberstein added that she previously saw Rickford cheering on protesters months ago during a student walkout as he allegedly chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” a saying slammed as antisemitic by the university.
The embattled history professor faced severe backlash in October after a video went viral of his comments describing the Oct. 7 terrorist attack that left more than 1,200 people dead in Israel and more than 240 others kidnapped.
“It was exhilarating. It was exhilarating, it was energizing,” he was seen telling the crowd, claiming “you would not be human” not to feel the same.
“I was exhilarated!” he said to a smattering of applause.
Days later, Rickford admitted that his comments were “reprehensible” and apologized “for the horrible choice of words.”
He requested a leave of absence from Cornell that is still in effect, according to the university.
The professor’s campus appearance Thursday came as protests organized by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation, a pro-Palestine group made up of more than 40 organizations, continue.
As at other New York colleges and universities around the country, the protesting students at Cornell are demanding their school divest from Israel and dissolve any partnership it has with the Jewish state, including the Jacobs-Technion Cornell Institute.
At least four Cornell students have been temporarily suspended over the protest, which started April 25, according to the Daily Sun.
