CUNY Prof Accused of Organizing Violent Anti-Israel Protest That Caused $3M in Damages

Edited by: Fern Sidman

An adjunct professor at the City University of New York (CUNY) is facing serious allegations after being linked to a violent anti-Israel protest at the City College of New York’s (CCNY) Harlem campus in April. According to a report on Saturday in The New York Post, Councilmembers Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) and Kalman Yeger (D-Brooklyn) have called for an immediate investigation into the role of Corinna Mullin, who allegedly helped organize the destructive demonstration. The councilmembers are also urging potential disciplinary action, including her dismissal, should the allegations prove true.

The protest, which escalated into violence, resulted in extensive damage to campus facilities, including a fire in a science building, clashes with campus police, and vandalism of administrative offices. The incident caused more than $3 million in damages. The New York Post reported that Mullin, a political science professor who teaches at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Brooklyn College, was among the roughly 170 demonstrators arrested during the April 30 protest.

In a strongly worded letter to CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez, Vernikov and Yeger demanded accountability. “We demand an immediate investigation, and if substantiated, appropriate consequences,” the councilmembers wrote, as reported by The New York Post. “Any students or faculty whose actions led to the chaos and violence on a taxpayer-funded college, which resulted in more than $3 million in damages, must be held accountable.”

Mullin, who earned a taxpayer-funded salary of $37,500 last year, has been linked to radical organizations, including the CUNY chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine and the pro-Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime, according to the information provided in The New York Post report, These groups have been criticized for their connections to anti-Israel rhetoric and actions.

The April protest spiraled into chaos, with demonstrators reportedly firing a flare gun that ignited a fire on the roof of a science building. Protesters also clashed with public safety officers, broke into an administrative building, smashed glass doors, and vandalized offices. As indicated in The New York Post report, rocks were hurled at campus police, and two officers were injured after being pepper sprayed.

Following her arrest, Mullin received a summons, though the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office did not disclose the specific charges against her. The New York Post report said that in a subsequent press conference in May, Mullin described the “inhumane treatment” she and others allegedly experienced after their arrests, a claim that has further drawn criticism from her detractors.

Councilmembers Vernikov and Yeger, both of whom are Jewish, have taken a particularly strong stance against Mullin’s alleged involvement in the demonstration. “This is a taxpayer-funded institution,” they emphasized in their letter, highlighting the responsibility of CUNY to investigate and address the incident.

The protest and its aftermath have reignited broader debates about free speech and extremism on college campuses. According to The New York Post, CUNY has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years over incidents involving anti-Israel demonstrations and allegations of anti-Semitism. This latest controversy has amplified calls for stricter oversight of faculty and student activities.

A campus police officer revealed that at least six CUNY faculty members and 15 students were arrested by campus police during the protests. Despite evidence of policy violations, the officer claimed, “A lot of policies were violated, and CUNY is not holding anybody accountable for their actions.”