Mahmood Mamdani is a professor at Columbia University, known for his outspoken support of extremist activism. Over the years, he has used his academic position to promote the delegitimization of Israel, call for its destruction, and endorse campaigns that fuel antisemitism on campus. His rhetoric consistently equates Zionism with settler colonialism and apartheid, contributing to a hostile environment for Jewish students at Columbia.

His role in recent campus protests has further exposed his extremist agenda. During the 2024 pro-Hamas encampment at Columbia, Mamdani was seen actively blocking Jewish students from entering the encampment, an action that many have condemned as discriminatory and a violation of Title VI protections. Despite concerns raised by Jewish students about rising antisemitism, he dismissed their fears as a fabrication designed to undermine anti-Israel activism.

Longstanding Calls for Israel’s Destruction

Mamdani has a documented history of advocating for the dismantling of Israel.

• In 2014, he openly stated that Israel had no right to exist as a Jewish state, drawing parallels between Israel and apartheid South Africa.
• In 2021, he escalated this rhetoric by comparing Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to Nazi Germany’s treatment of Jews.
• He has argued that Israel must undergo a process of “de-Zionization,” similar to Germany’s post-war denazification.

Endorsing Extremism at Columbia

Mamdani has been a vocal proponent of BDS for over two decades, using his academic influence to push anti-Israel activism.

• He played a key role in multiple BDS campaigns at Columbia, including efforts in 2002, 2009, and 2016 to pressure the university into severing ties with Israeli institutions.
• In 2016, he signed a petition supporting Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), an organization that spreads anti-Israel propaganda.
• In a 2021 interview, he explicitly stated that “BDS is a good thing” and that isolating Israel internationally was a necessary goal.

Spreading Antisemitic Rhetoric in Academia

Mamdani has consistently framed Zionism as a colonialist ideology and promoted narratives that vilify Israel.

• In 2002, he equated Israel with apartheid South Africa, Liberia, and Jim Crow America.
• In 2015, he falsely claimed that Zionist leaders “drew inspiration from how Americans cleansed the land of Indians.”
• His academic work is frequently cited by radical student groups justifying anti-Israel hostility on campus.

Influence and Institutional Support

Despite his extreme views, Mamdani holds a prestigious position at Columbia University and maintains influence beyond academia.

• He is a professor of political science, anthropology, and a key figure in the Center for Palestine Studies.
• He serves as the director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research in Uganda and holds a chancellorship at Kampala International University.
• His platform gives him significant leverage to push anti-Israel narratives under the guise of academic discourse.

Mamdani’s ongoing promotion of extremist rhetoric, support for discriminatory activism, and dismissal of Jewish students’ concerns demonstrate his deep involvement in the campus climate of hate. His presence at Columbia University fuels the normalization of antisemitism under the cover of scholarship and activism.