Premilla Nadasen was a professor of history at Barnard College, part of Columbia University, and co-director of the Barnard Center for Research on Women (BCRW). She received her PhD in American history from Columbia University in 1998. As of 2024, she serves on the scholarly advisory committee for the Center for Women’s History at the New-York Historical Society. Despite her academic achievements, Nadasen has been heavily criticized for her antisemitic rhetoric, justification of terrorism, and support for pro-Hamas activism. Her actions and statements have sparked outrage across academic and public spheres.

Justification of Hamas Terrorism

• Signing Letters Defending Hamas Attacks (October 2023):
  • Nadasen signed multiple open letters that framed Hamas’s October 7, 2023 terrorist attack as a “military response” to Israeli occupation.
  • One letter described the attack as part of “an ongoing war between an occupying state and the people it occupies” and defended the “right of return,” a demand widely criticized as a means to eliminate the Jewish peoplw.
• Statement on Academic Freedom at Barnard College:
  • In another letter, Nadasen accused Israel of committing “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” in its war against Hamas. She described anti-Zionism as a legitimate political stance while dismissing its antisemitic implications.

Dismissal of Campus Antisemitism

• Defense of “Globalize the Intifada” Protest at Syracuse University:
  • In December 2023, Nadasen signed a statement defending students who displayed signs reading “globalize the intifada.” The term “intifada” is associated with violent Palestinian uprisings, including hundreds of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.
  • The statement downplayed the violent connotations of the word and criticized university administrators for deeming the phrase “threatening.”

Support for Pro-Hamas Activism

• Endorsement of Columbia University’s Pro-Hamas Encampment (April-May 2024):
  • Nadasen publicly supported the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” at Columbia University, organized by anti-Israel groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).
  • The encampment featured incidents of violence, including the occupation of a campus building and the taking of a university worker hostage. Nadasen praised the encampment on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “These are my students. So proud of them.”
• Participation in “The People’s Graduation” (May 16, 2024):
  • Nadasen took part in this event organized by faculty to support students involved in the pro-Hamas encampment. The ceremony was held after Columbia canceled its official commencement due to the encampment’s disruptions.

Spreading Antisemitic Narratives

• Defending Violent Rhetoric:
  • Nadasen has repeatedly dismissed concerns about the antisemitic implications of anti-Zionist rhetoric, describing opposition to phrases like “intifada” as attempts to criminalize Arabic language and culture.
• Accusing Israel of “Genocide” and “Ethnic Cleansing”:
  • In various statements, Nadasen accused Israel of committing genocide and apartheid, using inflammatory and baseless accusations to delegitimize the Jewish state.

Direct Statements and Actions

• Post on X (April 26, 2024):
  • Praised students involved in the pro-Hamas encampment: “These are my students. So proud of them.”
• Open Letter (October 2023):
  • Referred to Hamas’s October 7 attacks as a “military response” and justified them as actions taken by “an occupied people exercising a right to resist.”
• Defense of Syracuse Protest (December 2023):
  • Claimed that interpreting the word “intifada” as violent or genocidal is “baseless and dangerous.”

Stepping Down From Role at Bernard

In December 2023, it was reported that Premilla Nadasen, as director of the Barnard Center for Research on Women, was stepping down amid allegations of multiple Title VI violations. These allegations included:

• Hosting Extremist Speakers: The center hosted a “Resistance 101” event featuring representatives from Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network and individuals tied to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organization.
• Discrimination Against Jewish Students: During the controversial Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University, which Nadasen publicly supported, reports surfaced that Jewish students were denied entry to the encampment.

Additionally, Nadasen faced criticism for:

• Justifying October 7th Hamas Attacks: She signed a joint statement that described the attacks as a “military response” and supported a narrative framing Hamas terrorism as justified resistance.
• Participation in Pro-Palestine Faculty Protests: Nadasen was photographed attending a faculty-led protest endorsing pro-Hamas rhetoric and actions.

These actions further cement her role in fostering a hostile campus environment and amplifying extremist narratives, resulting in widespread condemnation.