The Cornell University professor who last year called Hamas’ depraved Oct. 7 attack “exhilarating” sparked more outrage Wednesday after taking part in an anti-Israel march on campus where protesters chanted, “Long live the intifada.”
Associate history professor Russell Rickford walked with dozens of demonstrators as they spewed slogans against Israel, with one Jewish student calling the controversial instructor’s presence at the protest “insane” and another accusing him of “emboldening hate.”
Photos and videos obtained by The Post show Rickford clapping along with the chants as he walked with a keffiyeh around his shoulders and wearing an Ivy cap on his head — similar to the hat he wore last year when he made his shocking statements.
Intifada is the Arabic word that in English means “uprising” or “shaking off.”
In the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, intifada has been used to describe violent Palestinian protests against the Jewish state, according to the American Jewish Committee. The White House has previously condemned the phrase.
Protesters eventually crashed a career fair that was held on campus where school officials said they pushed past school police officers — though it does not appear Rickford was part of that disruption from footage posted online.
The instructor gained notoriety when he celebrated Hamas’ sneak assault on the Jewish state that killed 1,200 Israelis and sparked the war in Gaza.
“It was exhilarating, it was energizing … I was exhilarated,” Rickford said at the time — though he later apologized for the shameful speech.
While Cornell called the comments “reprehensible” last year, it noted the words were protected under the First Amendment. He was out for the past year on voluntary leave amid the outcry, but was allowed to return to teach at the Ivy this semester.
Jewish student Davian Gekman, 19, said “it’s insane to me” that Rickford is allowed to teach at the school and feels comfortable to participate in fiery protests on campus.
“Cornell is spitting in my face and the face of the entire Jewish community,” Gekman told The Post. “They’re allowing professors to call for ‘intifida,’ an end of the Jewish state.”
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Amanda Silberstain, vice president of Chabad and Cornellians for Israel, said Rickford marched with students to the building where the career fair was held, the Statler Hotel, but is unsure if he went inside.
“He was wearing a keffiyeh and smiling. Rickford knows he’s immune from consequences,” Silberstein fumed. “We have a professor who is promoting antisemitic narratives and emboldening hate.”
Video posted online by the group that spearheaded the demonstration, the Coalition for Mutual Liberation, shows protesters causing a ruckus inside the career fair, including crashing cymbals and banging on pots, as attendees attempted to operate around it.
Another video posted by an Ithaca Times journalist showed students calling on the school to divest from weapon manufacturers.
Cornell vice president for university relations Joel Malina said in a statement that university police were pushed and shoved and guests felt threatened during the disruption.
“And students were denied their ability to experience the Career Fair. This behavior is unacceptable, a violation of university policy, and illegal,” Malina stated.
“Cornell Police are working to identify those who violated our policies, and students will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for immediate action including suspension.
“Faculty and staff will be referred to Human Resources. These individuals will also be subject to potential criminal charges.”
The school did not address Rickford’s appearance at the march when contacted by The Post.
Rickford did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
