Gregory Mann, a professor at Columbia University, has been an active participant in anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas activities, leveraging his academic position to support extremist ideologies. His involvement in the controversial “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” and history of anti-Israel rhetoric reveal a disturbing alignment with sentiments that perpetuate hostility and division.

Gregory Mann’s Participation in the Pro-Hamas Encampment

The “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” (April 2024)

• Mann was prominently featured in footage and photographs from the pro-Hamas encampment at Columbia University.
  • On April 29, 2024, he was seen locking arms with fellow faculty members while wearing an orange vest labeled “FACULTY” as part of a human barricade that physically blocked Jewish students from entering campus.
  • The encampment was marked by violent incidents, including the illegal takeover of campus buildings, destruction of property, and the display of terrorist propaganda, such as banners celebrating the “Intifada,” a term associated with violent uprisings.

Alignment with Extremist Ideologies

• Mann’s public support for the encampment’s objectives included demands for Columbia to divest from institutions and companies accused of supporting alleged “genocide and occupation,” a familiar narrative used to demonize and delegitimize Jewish communities and Israel.
• The encampment also saw participants chanting anti-Semitic slogans and expressing overt support for Hamas, including calls for violence against Jewish students and public celebrations of terrorist activities.

Hatred of Israel and History of Anti-Israel Advocacy

Anti-Israel Letter to Columbia Leadership (2009)

• Mann was a signatory of a 2009 letter addressed to then-Columbia president Lee Bollinger.
  • The letter accused Israel of making “academic life unworkable” for Palestinians and cited Israel’s military operation “Cast Lead” as an example of “widespread destruction.”
  • Operation Cast Lead was a defensive measure launched by Israel to halt Hamas’s rocket attacks targeting Israeli civilians.

Defending Extremist Narratives

• The letter failed to acknowledge the role of Hamas in initiating violence and instead framed Israel’s defensive measures as unjustified acts of aggression. This one-sided narrative fits a broader pattern of Mann’s public endorsements of anti-Semitic and extremist viewpoints.

Professional Background

• Position: Professor of History at Columbia University, as of September 2024.
• Education: Mann holds advanced degrees in history, with a specialization in African and colonial studies, though his public-facing activism has shifted focus toward Middle Eastern political issues.

Conclusion

Gregory Mann’s actions and rhetoric position him as an active enabler of anti-Semitism and supporter of extremist ideologies. His participation in the Columbia encampment and endorsement of anti-Israel initiatives demonstrate a troubling alignment with narratives that glorify violence and target Jewish communities. Through his academic influence, Mann perpetuates hostility, divisiveness, and alignment with groups promoting terrorism, making him a polarizing and harmful figure in higher education.