USA - Columbia students, faculty rally against hate crimes

A group of students and faculty at Columbia University's Teachers College joined together to stand up against hate, following several incidents in the past month of anti-Semitism and racism at the school.

Professor Elizabeth Midlarsky affixed a mezuzah to her office door. The scroll serves as a declaration of the Jewish faith.

"It's a wonderful thing that is being done today,” said Midlarsky. “I feel it is a real act of affirmation."

Just last week, the professor's door was found defaced with a spray-painted swastika. On three occasions in October, Midlarsky, who is a Holocaust researcher, found propaganda in her mailbox denying the Holocaust happened.

In response, the Teachers College Jewish Association rallied outside the school to send the message that such acts are unacceptable.

Among them, an African American faculty member at the Teachers College, who found a noose hung on her office door, also in October. The president of the Teachers College appeared at the rally to assure students that the school has zero tolerance for hate crimes.

Source: www.ny1.com

Date: November 05, 2007

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