Students for Justice in Palestine at Cornell University (SJP Cornell) seeks to create an environment hostile for Jews on campus, intimidates supporters of Israel, and has even waged a misinformation campaign to dismiss the rise in antisemitism.
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Cornell SJP Chapter Profile: 2014-2022
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Organization Page:
Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)
SJP-Affiliated Cornell Professors:
Eric Cheyfitz, Julia Chang, Russell Rickford
2021-2022 SJP-Affilliated Cornell Student Assembly Reps:
Malak Abuhashim, Valeria Valencia, Claudia Leon, Jenniviv Bansah, Joseph Mullen, Adele Williams, Yanenowi Logan
May 2021 saw antisemitism skyrocket due to renewed conflict in Gaza. Echoing the attacks against Jews across the country, Cornell SJP launched a coordinated campaign targeting Jewish students and Israel supporters.
Hillel reported that Cornell’s Jewish students were feeling increasingly unsafe.
One student related that as she was leaving class, a fellow student said, “See ya later, dirty Jew.” Another student was confronted by a quote from Adolf Hitler and a swastika graffitied in a Cornell dormitory. And, in a move clearly designed to intimidate Jewish students, a banner was hung on campus calling out a prominent Jewish Cornell donor as being part of the “Cornell Israel Lobby.”
At a May 15, 2021 protests, Cornell SJP activists displayed signs that read: “End the Palestinian Holocaust” and “Stop the US Funding of Genocide.” A banner stated, “Stand with Palestinian Resistance.”
Israel was accused at the protests of “white supremacy,” “ethnic cleansing” and “violent brutal occupation.”
On the heels of the protests, Cornell SJP introduced a surprise anti-Israel statement in the Student Assembly (SA). The statement, written on an official SA letterhead, was introduced by three SA representatives, all Cornell SJP activists and presented as a fait accompli.
The statement was signed by 23 SA representatives, 18 of which were affiliated with Cornell SJP.
During the open microphone part of the meeting, students objected to what they claimed were inaccuracies in the statement and its failure to mention the thousands of rockets fired by Palestinian terrorists at Israeli population centers.
Laila Abd Elmagid, the SA’s Vice President of Internal Affairs and one of the Cornell SJP activists who introduced the statement, made clear that the statement was not up for discussion – notwithstanding the fact that the statement was to represent the SA.
Elmagid added, “... [this is] not something [we] wanted to debate, whether people deserve human rights or not … ”
Cornell SJP has had a strategy since 2014 to stack the student government with their activists as a means to push through resolutions hostile to Israel. Despite the fact that the statement was never voted on, it was widely distributed by Cornell SJP.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), antisemitic incidents “more than doubled in May 2021 compared to the same time period in 2020.
Cornell President, Martha Pollack sent out a letter in which she noted the “alarming national rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes… amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East” and appealed for “rigorous discourse and debate, devoid of personal invective and attacks.”
Cornell SJP’s response was to trivialize this increase in antisemitism and condemn President Pollack for her statement.
In response to President Pollack’s letter, the group rejected the university president’s call for “rigorous discourse and debate.” Instead, they promoted “the duty to resist colonial violence.” The chapter added, “In conclusion: Our expectations for you were low but Holy F#%k.”
Cornell SJP then called on their followers to “send an email to administration [sic] in regards to their complete dismissal of the ethnic cleansing and apartheid of Palestinians.”
In an Instagram post, Cornell SJP attached a link to an email condemning President Pollack’s letter. It was signed by Cornell professors, students and student groups.
The charged atmosphere on Cornell's campus is a microcosm of the Jewish student experience across North America. Like so many other campuses, the hostility directed against Jews at Cornell is driven by SJP.
Canary Mission investigated the activities of Cornell SJP from 2014-2022 and exposed its activists, students and professors.
To find out more, read the full report.
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Eric Cheyfitz compared Israel to Nazi Germany, spread anti-Semitism, defended Hamas terrorists and spread hatred of Israel during a war against Hamas in late 2023.
Russell Rickford praised Hamas war crimes, glorified terrorists, demonized Israel, defended violent protesters and endorsed anti-Israel agitators. He is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Julia Haeyoon Chang dismissed anti-Semitism, defended violent protesters, demonized Israel and promoted incitement. She also endorsed anti-Israel agitators and spread hatred of the police.
Malak Abuhashim dismissed anti-Semitism, spread incitement, expressed support for terrorists and is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. She was the President of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Cornell University
Yusif Khalil [Abu Yusif Habib, Dani Yusif] supported a terrorist, disrupted an Israel Day campus event and engaged in anti-Israel activism with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Cornell University (Cornell). He also demonized Israel and spread hatred of America
Joseph Mullen [Joseph Michael Rex Mullen] expressed support for terrorists and helped organize a 2021 Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest in support of anti-Israel violence at Cornell University.
Mena Attia [Mena M Attia Sharafeldin] has spread hatred of Zionists, glorified a terrorist and demonized Israel.
Max Greenberg called for Israel’s destruction, demonized Israel and organized a 2021 Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest in support of anti-Israel violence at Cornell University (Cornell) as a member of Cornell SJP.
Piragash Swargaloganathan disrupted a 2017 Israel Day event at Cornell University as an activist of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
Jenniviv Bansah participated in a 2021 Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest in support of anti-Israel violence at Cornell University and signed a 2021 anti-Israel statement while serving as the 2021-2022 Executive Vice President and Chair of the Cornell Student Assembly.
Claudia Irene León helped organize a 2021 Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest at Cornell University in support of anti-Israel violence. She also signed a 2021 anti-Israel statement and dismissed anti-Semitism while serving as the 2021-2022 Vice President and Chair of Diversity and Inclusion and College of Arts and Sciences Representative with the Cornell Student Assembly.
Adele Williams participated in a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest at Cornell University, supporting violence against Israel and signed an anti-Israel statement while serving as the 2021-2022 Cornell Student Assembly (SA)’s College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Representative.
Valeria Nicole Valencia signed an anti-Israel statement while serving as the 2021-2022 First Generation Student Representative At-Large and Diversity Committee member with the Student Assembly at Cornell University.
Yanenowi Logan signed an anti-Israel statement while serving as the 2021-2022 Cornell Student Assembly College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Representative.
Lizzie Ominsky [Elizabeth Ominsky] participated in a 2021 protest in support of anti-Israel violence organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Cornell University.
Della Keahna Uran pushed a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) initiative at Cornell University (Cornell) launched by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) in 2019.
Sophia Roshal has demonized Israel and pushed a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) initiative launched by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Cornell University in 2019.
Iman Omar participated in a 2021 Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest at Cornell University in support of anti-Israel violence.
Ameera Elgonemy participated in a 2021 Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest in support of anti-Israel violence at Cornell University.
Hajar Mehanna participated in a 2021 Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest at Cornell University in support of anti-Israel violence.
Youssef Aziz signed a 2021 anti-Israel statement and promoted a 2021 protest in support of anti-Israel violence at Cornell University.
Mardiya Shardow signed a 2021 anti-Israel statement while serving on the Student Assembly, promoted a 2021 Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest in support of anti-Israel violence and dismissed anti-Semitism.
Mira Kudva Driskell signed a 2021 anti-Israel statement by the Student Assembly (SA) at Cornell University.
Mahfuza Maliyat Shovik co-authored and co-sponsored a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) resolution at Cornell University, as a Student Assembly representative and activist with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
Omar Din pushed a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) resolution as a Student Assembly representative and activist with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Cornell University in 2019.
Hadiyah Chowdhury led a rally in support of an anti-Israel agitator, disrupted an Israel Day campus event, campaigned for a terrorist and led a 2014 anti-Israel protest as the acting president of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Cornell University in 2015-2018.
Ana Jimenez campaigned for a terrorist and is a supporter of the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Laila Abd Elmagid helped organize a 2021 Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest in support of anti-Israel violence at Cornell University and co-authored an anti-Israel statement.
Saim Ejaz Chaudhary has spread incitement, demonized Israel and endorsed anti-Israel agitators. Chaudhary has also promoted a Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) initiative.
Arwa Abdelaziz Ali disrupted an Israel Day celebration with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Cornell University in 2015 and participated in Cornell SJP’s 2014 anti-Israel protest.
Moriah Adeghe participated in and promoted a protest in support of anti-Israel violence and signed an anti-Israel statement, in 2021.
Malikul Muhamad demonized Israel and promoted a 2019 Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) initiative as an activist with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Cornell University.
Ayman Naji participated in a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest in support of anti-Israel violence at Cornell University and signed a 2021 anti-Israel statement.
Adam Khatib helped push a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) resolution as a leader of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Cornell University, in 2019.
Soumaya Zaadoud endorsed an anti-Israel agitator and helped push a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) initiative as an activist with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Cornell University in 2018-2019.
Tomás Reuning [Tomás Daniel Chávez Reuning] has spread hatred of Zionists, America and the police, as well as trivialized anti-Semitism and demonized Israel.
Lana Feras Aldos signed a 2021 anti-Israel statement by the Student Assembly (SA) at Cornell University (Cornell). She has also dismissed anti-Semitism, demonized Israel, defended a terror supporter and endorsed an anti-Israel agitator.
Uchenna Kelechi Chukwukere participated in a 2021 Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest at Cornell University in support of anti-Israel violence and pushed a 2021 anti-Israel statement at Cornell Student Assembly.
Julian Goldberg has demonized Israel, endorsed an anti-Israel agitator, glorified violent protesters and engaged in anti-Israel activism.
Ezra Stein demonized Israel, endorsed anti-Israel agitators and pushed a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) initiative at Cornell University in 2019.
Samir Salih has promoted calls for the abolition of Israel, whitewashed a terrorist, spread incitement and engaged in anti-Israel activism. Salih also pushed a 2019 Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) initiative at Cornell University as a member of SJP.