Since the Hamas-instigated invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, Cornell University has been the site of active anti-Israel and pro-Hamas protests, led by a group that calls itself the Coalition for Mutual Liberation (CLM). Last year's pro-Hamas tent encampment was organized by the CLM, for example.
This year's expected pro-Hamas activities kicked off on September 18, 2024, with a protest march against a job recruitment fair that was being held at Cornell's Statler Hotel, to disrupt recruitment of Cornell students by two companies, Boeing and L3Harris. The National Association of Scholars was there. It was a typical 60s style raucous protest. It verged into illegality when the group forced its way into the Statler Hotel. When they did so, they were trespassing. The Cornell Police were there, and after a few minutes, escorted the crowd back out.
Watch as the National Association of Scholars' Director of Science Programs J. Scott Turner documents the protest and gives first-hand account of the day.
Photo from YouTube video taken by J. Scott Turner at Cornell University, September 18, 2024
