Rally Behind Suspended Pro-Hamas Student Facing Criminal Charges
Cornell University has recently seen disruptive protests rallying behind Sriram Parasurama, a second-year PhD student facing criminal charges stemming from his involvement in a violent Pro-Palestine protest earlier this semester. Parasurama, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of obstructing government administration and unlawful assembly, has become a somewhat of an important figure on campus amongst his fellow extremist.
Parasurama’s legal team recently requested a reduced charge of disorderly conduct, a non-criminal offense, which would eliminate the possibility of jail time and reduce fines to $1,000. Negotiations are reportedly ongoing with the district attorney’s office, according to the Cornell Daily Sun.
Campus Protest and Controversial Posts
Parasurama gained notoriety following the September protest, during which the Coalition for Mutual Liberation disrupted a campus career fair that featured Boeing, a company with ties to Israel. Video footage released by Cornell shows protesters aggressively forcing their way into the event, disregarding orders from officers.
Adding to the controversy, Parasurama reposted a social media image calling for “Death to America,” captioning it with “Not a threat, a promise,” along with a saluting emoji. These actions, combined with his suspension and three-year campus ban, have ignited widespread debate over free speech and accountability.
Activists Rally in Defense
In response to his suspension, about 100 protesters, including grad student unions and campus activists, gathered on campus ahead of Parasurama’s Nov. 22 court hearing. They demanded leniency and argued that his punishment is excessive for a first offense under Cornell’s Student Code of Conduct.
Speakers at the rally emphasized Parasurama’s role as a researcher in Cornell’s School of Integrative Plant Science and highlighted the personal and professional consequences he faces, including the potential loss of his National Science Foundation fellowship.
University Leadership Responds
Interim President Michael Kotlikoff defended Cornell’s strict response, stating that the protesters’ actions, which involved pushing past police and disrupting the career fair, violated university policies and crossed a clear line.
“To safeguard the rights of everyone in our community and our ability to continue pursuing our academic mission, it is the obligation of the university to respond in a way that recognizes the seriousness of this behavior,” Kotlikoff said.
Broader Implications and Controversy
Parasurama’s case is part of a larger issue at Cornell, where a total of 15 students have been suspended following recent protests, five of whom are banned from campus for several years. Activist groups continue to pressure the university to overturn these decisions through petitions and public campaigns.
Cornell’s handling of the situation has also brought attention to institutional conflicts of interest. Activists point to Board of Trustees Chair Kraig Keyser’s ties to weapons manufacturing, a detail that has fueled further calls for divestment from companies involved in global conflicts.
