Ivy League professor who boasted he was 'exhilarated' by Hamas attack on Israel now on 'leave of absence'

Cornell Professor Russell Rickford is officially on a "leave of absence" after controversy surrounding comments he made at a pro-Palestinian rally.

"Professor Russell Rickford has requested and received approval to take a leave of absence from the university," school officials confirmed to campus newspaper the Cornell Review.

What is the background?

Earlier this month, Rickford spoke at a pro-Palestine rally in downtown Ithaca, New York, where he appeared to celebrate Hamas' barbaric attack on Israel.

"Hamas has challenged the monopoly of violence," Rickford said. "[Palestinians] were able to breathe for the first time in years. It was exhilarating. It was energizing. And if they weren't exhilarated by this challenge to the monopoly of violence, by this shifting of the balance of power, then they would not be human. I was exhilarated."

Cornell Prof. Russell Rickford Speaks at Pro-Palestine Rallywww.youtube.com

As Rickford's comments gained national attention and sparked outcry among students, Cornell administrators publicly reprimanded him for his "reprehensible" comments.

"The university is taking this incident seriously and is currently reviewing it consistent with our procedures," said Cornell University president Martha Pollack and Board of Trustees chairman Kraig Kayser in a statement.

One day after the rebuke, Rickford issued an apology.

"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," Rickford said. "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."

Rickford, moreover, claimed "some of the language" he used "was reprehensible" and it "did not reflect my values."

Last week, a prominent Democrat joined Cornell students in demanding Cornell administrators terminate Rickford.

"As a person of authority at an educational institution, to celebrate murder, rape and abducting children and slaughtering children, I think he should be fired," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said. "There's certainly no space for pro-Hamas protestors. That is someone who is supporting death, destruction, rape, murder, and slaughtering of innocent children, and families and seniors and holding hostages, so that cannot be supported."

Cornell officials have not said if Rickford will be terminated.

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