A 19-year-old student at Hamilton College in upstate New York has been charged with posting antisemitic remarks on campus. After receiving a report of the remarks being posted on art canvases, authorities identified the suspect as Adyn S. Brenden from South Dakota. Brenden admitted to posting the remarks and was taken into custody on a count of first-degree aggravated harassment. He has been suspended from campus pending a hearing for his dismissal from the school.
The arrest comes after a vigil held by Hamilton College’s Center for Jewish Life marking the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ incursion on Israel. This event resulted in protests across U.S. cities and college campuses, with calls for divestment from Israel and companies profiting from the conflict. The war in Gaza also led to a rise in antisemitic, Islamophobic, and anti-Palestinian bias incidents in the U.S.
Authorities have stated that there is no threat against students or faculty at Hamilton College. The defendant is due to appear in court, and it is unclear if he has legal representation at this time. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and conflicts surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and its impact on communities and campuses in the U.S.
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