UC Berkeley to Host Ex-Columbia Professor with History of Pro-Hamas Statements
Mohamed Abdou, who was fired from Columbia University for social media posts aligning himself with Hamas, is scheduled to speak via Zoom on October 6.
UC Berkeley is set to host Mohamed Abdou, a former Columbia University professor known for his pro-Hamas statements, for a virtual event on October 6, the day before the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks. The university confirmed that Abdou will speak via Zoom to students organized by the UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine.
Abdou was terminated from his position at Columbia University after posting on social media that he was "with Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad" days after the October 7 attacks. He is currently on a "Death to the Akademy" tour, which has included controversial remarks to students at other universities.
In a previous virtual appearance for NYU students, Abdou reportedly encouraged a "hate for America," stating, "You love Islam, and you should be loving Islam more than this barbarous colony. It’s a plague upon the Earth. And yes, in that sense, you need to be a threat. We all need to be a threat." He also spoke of seeking martyrdom, saying, "If we are to meet Muhammad, then our blood serves as a testimony. We do not fear death."
A spokesperson for UC Berkeley acknowledged that the event and Abdou's rhetoric would be upsetting to the Jewish community. However, the university stated it would not cancel the event based on expectations of what might be expressed. The spokesperson added that the university engages with its Jewish community to ensure support is available and that campus safety is paramount.
The UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine defended their decision to host Abdou, stating in a social media post that they would not censor their speech regarding the conflict in Palestine. They asserted that "Palestinian liberation is inherently entwined with the freeing of Turtle Island & the restoration of indigenous sovereignty & Black self-determination."
Abdou expressed his honor in giving talks at the colleges on October 6 and 7. The UC Berkeley event is titled "1492: From Palestine to Turtle Island," and a separate event at Claremont College is titled "Re-Igniting Student Organizing Against Settler-Colonial Amerika."