Derron Borders, Cornell University’s diversity and inclusion director, has been criticized after sharing an Instagram post that called Hamas’ actions the “resistance.”
After widespread criticism, Borders said that he does not support the terrorist organization.
“When you hear about Israel this morning and the resistance being launched by Palestinians, remember against all odds Palestinians are fighting for life, dignity, and freedom — alongside others doing the same — against settler colonization, imperialism, capitalism, white supremacy, which the United States is the model,” the original post with almost 40,000 likes read.
Borders later released a statement on his position.
“The atrocities and violence towards innocent people in Israel is absolutely horrifying and should be condemned,” he wrote. The statement added that “the state-sanctioned violence and denial of self-determination for the Palestinian people by the Israeli government is also terrible and should be condemned.”
The New York Post reported that Cornell University said that Borders was “an employee who has been on a leave of absence from the university for several months.”
Other Ivy League universities have voiced support for Palestine, some saying Israel was “entirely responsible” for Hamas’ actions.
