The UC Davis chancellor has condemned social media posts made by a transgender American Studies faculty member calling for violence on Jewish people living in the United States.
What they said: The posts, made on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), were reported to have called for violence towards certain members of the Jewish community in the United States.
- The alleged posts were attributed to Jemma Decristo, an American Studies assistant professor.
- While the posts are no longer visible, they are still circulating online, and there are calls for Decristo to be fired.
- “[One] group of ppl we have easy access to in the US is all these zionist journalists who spread propaganda & misinformation. “They have houses w addresses, kids in school. They can fear their bosses, but they should fear us more.”
- Decristo included a knife, an axe and three blood-drop emoji.
Condemnation, but no ouster: The university has released a statement rejecting all forms of violence and discrimination.
- “I absolutely condemn the posts attributed to a UC Davis faculty member that recently appeared on the social media platform X. I find the comments revolting in every way, and I disagree wholeheartedly with them,” said Chancellor Gary S. May. “The provost will refer this matter to the appropriate campus departments that investigate harassment, discrimination and faculty conduct, in consultation with legal counsel regarding First Amendment rights.”
- Decristo continues to hold her position with the university, May said, due to “specific procedures for the review of complaints of faculty misconduct consistent with university-wide policies and bylaws.”
