Cornell Professor Apologizes for Calling Hamas Terror Attack “Exhilarating”

Cornell University Professor Russell Rickford issued an apology on Wednesday for calling the Hamas terror attack “exhilarating” at a pro-Palestinian rally on Sunday.

As the Journal previously reported, Rickford had said during the rally that that Hamas “punctured the illusion of invincibility. That’s what they have done. You don’t have to be a Hamas supporter to recognize that.” Rickford proceeded to say that “in those first few hours, even as horrific acts were being carried out, many of which we would not learn about until later, there are many Gazans of good will, many Palestinians of conscience, who abhor violence, as do you, as do I. Who abhor the targeting of civilians, as do you, as do I. Who were able to breathe, they were able to breathe for the first time in years. It was exhilarating. It was exhilarating, it was energizing. And if they weren’t exhilarated by this challenge to the monopoly of violence, the shifting of the violence of power, then they would not be human. I was exhilarated.”

He has since apologized. Writing in a letter to The Cornell Daily Sun, Rickford stated: “I apologize for the horrible choice of words that I used in a portion of a speech that was intended to stress grassroots African American, Jewish and Palestinian traditions of resistance to oppression. I recognize that some of the language I used was reprehensible and did not reflect my values. As I said in the speech, I abhor violence and the violent targeting of civilians. I am sorry for the pain that my reckless remarks have caused my family, my students, my colleagues and many others in this time of suffering. As a scholar, a teacher, an activist and a father, I strive to uphold the values of human dignity, peace and justice. I want to make it clear that I unequivocally oppose and denounce racism, anti-semitism, Islamophobia, militarism, fundamentalism and all systems that dehumanize, divide and oppress people.”

Prior to Rickford’s apology, the university had denounced his comments as being “reprehensible” and having “no regard whatsoever for humanity.” “The university is taking this incident seriously and is currently reviewing it consistent with our procedures,” President Martha Pollack and Board of Trustees Chair Kraig Keyser said in a Tuesday statement.

Sam Aberman, the Cornell student who first posted the video of Rickford’s remarks to X, formerly known as Twitter, noted on X that Rickford’s apology contained “no mention of Hamas. No mention of terrorism. No apology to the Cornell Jewish community. But he does apologize for his choice of words. Do you think this is enough?”

Cornell University Professor Russell Rickford has released a statement through The Cornell Daily Sun.

No mention of Hamas.
No mention of terrorism.
No apology to the Cornell Jewish community.

But he does apologize for his choice of words. Do you think this is enough? pic.twitter.com/86K8jU5Vyi

— Sam Aberman (@samaberman) October 19, 2023