A former junior at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, named Patrick Dai, was sentenced to 21 months in prison after threatening to murder Jewish students and behead their babies. The Department of Justice announced that Dai, 22, from Pittsford, New York, would also be under three years of supervised release and pay a special assessment of $100. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated that every student has the right to pursue their education without fear of violence based on their identity or religious beliefs. She emphasized that Dai’s antisemitic threats violated this right and reaffirmed that those who threaten and intimidate others based on their religious practice or background would be held accountable.
Dai admitted to posting threatening messages in the Cornell University section of an online discussion forum on October 28 and 29, 2023. His posts included violent threats against Jewish individuals, such as beheading their babies and turning their synagogue into a graveyard. Dai used various usernames like “kill jews,” “hamas soldier,” and “sieg heil” to make these threatening posts. He also specifically threatened to shoot up a campus dining hall that served kosher food. U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman for the Northern District of New York confirmed that this was considered a hate crime under the federal Sentencing Guidelines due to Dai’s targeting of Jewish students and the disruption caused to the university’s core function of educating students.
The Cornell student’s actions caused terror on campus and shattered the community’s sense of safety. Dai’s threatening messages posted online caused significant fear and anxiety among students, leading to a disruption in the normal functioning of the university. The court found that Dai’s threats substantially disrupted the university’s ability to educate its students. As a result, Dai received a 21-month prison sentence, along with supervised release and a monetary assessment. The Assistant Attorney General’s statement reiterated the importance of protecting students from violence based on their identity or religious beliefs, emphasizing that those who engage in such behavior will face consequences.
Dai’s sentencing sends a strong message that threatening and intimidating behavior targeting individuals based on their religious background or beliefs will not be tolerated. The Department of Justice’s commitment to holding accountable those who engage in hate crimes is evident through the prosecution and sentencing of Dai for his antisemitic threats against Jewish students at Cornell University. The 21-month prison term, along with supervised release and a monetary assessment, reflects the seriousness of Dai’s actions and the impact they had on the university community in creating fear and disrupting the educational environment.
The threatening messages posted by Dai, including graphic and violent threats against Jewish students, had a lasting impact on the Cornell University community. The court’s decision to classify these threats as a hate crime underscores the severity of Dai’s behavior and the need to address such incidents with appropriate consequences. Assistant Attorney General Clarke’s statement reaffirmed the Department of Justice’s commitment to ensuring that all students have the right to pursue their education without fear of violence or intimidation based on their identity or religious beliefs. The sentencing of Dai for his antisemitic threats serves as a warning to others who may consider engaging in similar behavior.
