Several virtual Zoom events hosted by CUNY campuses over the past 10 days were the targets of hateful attacks by individuals who infiltrated the online forums and posted racist, white supremacist messages and images. The events included campus celebrations of Black History Month, as well as student club gatherings for Women in Business and the Muslim Business Association.
“I am both saddened and angered by the pain and trauma these vile attacks have caused our students, faculty and staff. We tend to delineate online forums and events as ‘virtual,’ but make no mistake: These despicable attacks were brutally real and carry the potential to cause lasting, substantial damage. We condemn the actors and their acts, but we also must do all in our power to counteract the culture and climate that give rise to this abhorrent behavior. As a University community, it is our mission to condemn hatred, champion diversity and celebrate the contributions of all peoples and groups of goodwill, not only during Black History Month, but every day of the year.
“The University is working with Governor Cuomo’s office and the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to aid the investigation. While it is impossible to fully prevent malicious actors from infiltrating our public online spaces, we must be unified in strident condemnation of these disgusting, disruptive events. I ask anyone who is aware of additional incidents or has information that might help us identify the perpetrators or prevent future attacks, to come forward immediately.”
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