Joseph Slaughter, a senior faculty member at Columbia University, has used his prominent roles—including leadership of the university’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights—to legitimize terrorism, undermine university policy, and contribute to the radicalization of Columbia’s campus. Slaughter’s actions betray the ethical responsibilities of an educator and reveal a pattern of open alignment with antisemitic, pro-Hamas activism.
While tasked with upholding protest policy as a member of Columbia’s Rules Committee, Slaughter instead actively participated in—and helped coordinate—illegal encampments and faculty-backed efforts to shield violent agitators from accountability. His public endorsement of Hamas justifications and alleged physical obstruction of Jewish students make him one of the most dangerous faculty members currently operating at Columbia.
Defending the Justification of Terrorism
Just weeks after Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 civilians on October 7, 2023—including women, children, and the elderly—Slaughter signed an open letter on October 30, 2023, defending Columbia students who had attempted to justify the massacre as “resistance.” The letter ignored the mass rape, kidnappings, and beheadings committed during the attacks and instead framed Hamas’s actions as part of a broader anti-colonial struggle.
By publicly aligning with a statement that legitimized terror, Slaughter signaled his willingness to excuse mass violence when it aligns with his ideological commitments—regardless of the human cost.
Faculty Marshal of Columbia’s Pro-Hamas Encampment
In April 2024, Slaughter served as a “faculty marshal” at the Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) encampment, where Jewish students were harassed, barred from campus facilities, and subjected to hate speech. He was seen on:
- April 22, 2024: Participating in the “Faculty Walkout” rally supporting students arrested for trespassing, vandalism, and incitement.
- April 29, 2024: Photographed interacting with encampment protestors outside Butler Library.
- May 1, 2024: Seen wearing a neon vest and holding a sign that read “No War on Students,” just hours after violent agitators were arrested for the armed occupation of Hamilton Hall.
- Mat 15, 2024: Professor Joseph gave a graduation speech on a message saying that he stands in solidarity with various groups, yet he ignored campus antisemitism, excluded Zionists, and reinforced the administration’s indifference toward Jewish students’ safety and inclusion.
His participation came despite holding a seat on Columbia’s University Senate Rules Committee, responsible for enforcing protest regulations—a clear conflict of interest and a flagrant violation of his duties.
Blocking Jewish Students From Campus
In April 2024, while serving both as a university official and faculty marshal, Slaughter was allegedly involved in physically blocking Jewish students from entering parts of campus occupied by encampment activists. A formal complaint was later filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, accusing Slaughter of participating in discriminatory acts that created a hostile environment for Jewish students.
If true, these actions represent a severe abuse of authority—weaponizing protest privilege to discriminate on the basis of religion and national origin.
Deep Ties to Extremism
Slaughter is closely affiliated with Columbia’s Center for Palestine Studies, a hub for radicalized faculty who routinely glorify terrorism, promote BDS, and whitewash the crimes of Hamas and Hezbollah. His public support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement places him squarely within a global campaign that seeks the isolation of Israel while ignoring the actions of recognized terrorist organizations.
Though his official title is Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Human Rights, Slaughter’s record reflects a disturbing pattern of siding with movements that threaten human rights—particularly those of Jews, Israelis, and political dissidents who challenge pro-Hamas orthodoxy.
Joseph Slaughter has repeatedly abandoned the principles he is supposed to uphold. As a professor, administrator, and protest marshal, he has enabled antisemitism, supported groups aligned with terrorism, and contributed to an environment where Jewish students are unsafe and unwelcome.
His record is not one of advocacy for justice, but of betrayal—betrayal of academic neutrality, university policy, and the core values of human rights. Columbia must reckon with the fact that one of its most influential faculty members has chosen extremism over education, and radicalism over responsibility.