A Cornell University junior, Patrick Dai, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly making antisemitic threats and hate speech online. The 21-year-old engineering student from Pittsford, New York, was charged with calling for the deaths of Jewish people and threatening to shoot up a campus dining hall. These disturbing posts were made on a Greek life message board that was not affiliated with the school. Dai also threatened to harm and kill Jewish students, including stabbing them, slitting their throats, and raping Jewish females. He even threatened to bring an assault rifle to campus and shoot Jewish individuals.
The FBI was able to track down Dai through his IP address, and he admitted to making these hateful comments under various usernames. This incident comes at a time of heightened hostilities and increased antisemitism on college campuses across the U.S. due to the Israel-Hamas War.
While Dai’s actions are deeply troubling, his parents have stated that he suffers from severe depression and mental health issues. They claim that he had lost his life goals and motivation, leading to a downward spiral. Dai had taken time off from university to focus on improving his mental health, but days before his arrest, he stopped communicating with his family.
The threats made by Dai have raised concerns among the Cornell University community, leading to increased security measures for Jewish students and organizations on campus. New York Governor Kathy Hochul visited the university and expressed support for the affected students.
Dai is expected to appear in federal court on charges of making threats to injure or kill using interstate communications. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the New York State Police, Cornell University Police Department, and the Ithaca Police Department.
This incident highlights the growing issue of antisemitism and hate speech on college campuses, and the need for increased efforts to address and prevent such incidents. It also raises questions about the role of mental health and its impact on individuals’ actions.
Rebecca Rosenberg, a veteran journalist and book author focusing on crime and criminal justice, reported on this story.
