The University of Rochester is investigating after hundreds of “wanted” posters associated with the Israel-Hamas war were plastered around campus featuring images of faculty, staff, and administrators.
Joy Getnick, the executive director of UR Hillel, said Jewish faculty and staff were “disproportionately singled out” with “language that spreads harmful, antisemitic ideas about Jewish people and Jewish indigeneity.”
Some of the language on the posters accused the individuals of "ethnic cleansing," "racism," "war crimes," "displacement of Palestinians," and more.
BREAKING: The pro-Hamas students and faculty plastered the University of Rochester with wanted posters of Jewish faculty.
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) November 12, 2024
These faculty were not Israeli, they were Jewish. This is textbook antisemitism. Reform has never been more needed at American universities. pic.twitter.com/jdMzlHEAr7
In a disgusting, textbook display of antisemitism, the pro-Hamas mob plastered the University of Rochester with hundreds of “wanted” posters for Jewish faculty.
— House Committee on Education & the Workforce (@EdWorkforceCmte) November 14, 2024
Utterly despicable.https://t.co/HxBmOAMZEe
“I want to be as clear as I can that the University of Rochester strongly denounces the recent display of ‘Wanted’ posters targeting senior University leaders and members of our faculty, staff, and Board of Trustees,” UR president Sarah Mangelsdorf said in a statement on Tuesday. “This act is disturbing, divisive and intimidating and runs counter to our values as a university.
"Furthermore, several of those depicted appear to have been targeted because they are members of our Jewish community, she added. "We view this as antisemitism, which will not be tolerated at our University. This isn’t who we are. This goes against everything we stand for and we have an obligation to reject it."
