Professor dismissed by CNN for being anti-Israel is hired by CUNY

A lecturer, who was sacked by CNN in 2018 for making anti-Israeli remarks, has been hired by the City University of New York, which has been under heavy criticism for its antisemitic practices in recent years.

Marc Lamont Hill is a „presidential professor” of urban education at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan. He previously held an endowed position at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Hill is described as a „radical educator” by the Graduate Center, who „explores issues of race, education, citizenship and state violence in the United States and the Middle East.”

In the speech that led to Hill’s termination from CNN, she said, „We have an opportunity to not just offer solidarity in words, but to commit to political action, grass-roots action, local action, and international action that will give us what justice requires, which is a free Palestine from the river to the sea.“

Hill stated on social media at the time that, despite the latter phrase’s reference to forcibly removing Israel off the map, „My reference to ‘river to the sea’ was not a call to destroy anything or anyone.”

Ari Kagan, a member of the New York City Council, wrote: „I am asking on the CUNY board of trustees to not allow this hazardous hire to proceed forward, that would leave CUNY’s Jewish students and staff feeling even less protected than they do now.“ „Been blessed to spend the last day with Minister Louis Farrakhan,” Hill posted on Instagram following a 2016 meeting with the leader of the Nation of Israel.

A wonderful period of education, listening, amusement, and even musical head-nodding. God is Wonderful. „CUNY’s choice to hire Marc Lamont Hill is ideal. Executive editor of the Washington Examiner magazine Seth Mandel wrote, „I don’t know how I didn’t see it coming.“

Hill had „drawn criticism in the past over his comments about the Middle East”, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Temple trustees condemned his remarks about Israel in 2018 despite upholding his right to free speech.

A CUNY lawstudent gave an antisemitic graduating speech on May 12. Earlier this year, CUNY came under fire for allegedly discriminating against Jewish professors and providing a hard-left definition of anti-Semitism as advice for people who report such incidents.