Josh Whitford, an associate professor of sociology at Columbia University, actively participated in the pro-Hamas “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” in April 2024. The encampment, organized by antisemitic student groups, became a hotspot for antisemitic rhetoric, harassment of Jewish students, and explicit displays of support for terrorism. Whitford’s involvement included forming barricades to obstruct Jewish students, attending events supporting the encampment, and aligning with its divisive and inflammatory objectives.

Josh Whitford‘s Role and Faculty Participation

Whitford was filmed on April 22, 2024, wearing a bright yellow vest labeled “FACULTY”, participating in the encampment alongside other Columbia faculty and staff. Faculty members donned orange and yellow vests marked “FACULTY” or “STAFF” to visibly support the encampment’s cause. These individuals, including Whitford, formed “human barricades” to block Jewish students from entering the campus. Signs carried by faculty supporters included phrases such as “HANDS OFF OUR STUDENTS” and “No cops on campus.”

The encampment participants also held an alternative graduation event on May 16, 2024, called “The People’s Graduation,” which Whitford attended. The ceremony, organized by faculty supportive of the encampment, was described as a platform for students “excluded from campus for peacefully protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza.”

The Nature of the Encampment

The pro-Hamas encampment, which began on April 17, 2024, was framed as a protest against Israel’s war with Hamas. However, it quickly escalated into a site of antisemitic hostility, harassment, and violence. Protesters occupied Columbia’s main lawn, vandalized property, and spread inflammatory messages.

On April 30, 2024, activists broke into Columbia’s Hamilton Hall, smashing glass doors, destroying security cameras, and throwing university property out of windows. When the New York Police Department (NYPD) dismantled the encampment, they discovered knives, hammers, gas masks, ropes, and a pamphlet that read:

“…DISRUPT/RECLAIM/DESTROY zionist business interests everywhere! DEATH TO ISRAELI REAL STATE! DEATH TO AMERICA!…LONG LIVE THE INTIFADA!”

Jewish students were subjected to severe harassment. Just outside the encampment area, they were called “Uncultured a** b**ches!” and told to “Go back to Europe!”. Other protesters shouted:

“Yahoodim [Jews], yahoodi [Jew], f**k you!”
“Stop killing children!”

Chants celebrating violence against Israel were also common, such as:

“Ya Hamas, ya habib, odrob, odrob Tel Aviv! [Oh Hamas, oh loved one, strike, strike Tel Aviv!]”.

Alignment with Antisemitic Rhetoric and Steven Salaita

Whitford is a vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and has signed petitions calling for academic and cultural boycotts of Jews. He also expressed support for disgraced antisemitic professor Steven Salaita, who faced backlash for tweets such as:

“You may be too refined to say it, but I’m not: I wish all the f**king West Bank settlers would go missing.”

Salaita’s other statements included a declaration that he would “die unapologetic” for his antisemitic rhetoric.

Whitford’s Academic Role

As of September 2024, Whitford was listed as an associate professor in Columbia’s Department of Sociology and the director of graduate studies. He holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earned in 2003.

Josh Whitford’s active participation in the pro-Hamas encampment at Columbia, alongside his alignment with its inflammatory rhetoric and violent overtones, highlights his engagement with an event that propagated antisemitic hostility and undermined campus inclusivity. His involvement raises serious concerns about the role of faculty in endorsing and supporting such divisive and harmful activities.