School has just begun and anti-Israel protests are already causing problems at Cornell University – showing the unrest from this spring is far from over.
Demonstrators held a massive protest on the first day of classes Monday, spraypainting the phrases “Israel bombs, Cornell pays” and “Blood is on your hands” on the entrance of one of the school’s buildings, Day Hall. Protesters also smashed one of the building’s glass doors.
Cornell called the behavior appalling and said “Those responsible will be subject to suspension and criminal charges.” However, as far as protests more broadly are concerned, the school’s goal “is not to punish individuals or to suppress the views being promoted, but to protect the rights of all in our community.”
The school said it’s possible it will give protestors “access to prominent campus locations for registered encampments,” but warned that protestors who repeatedly defy school policy will face disciplinary action.