GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Blakeman Condemns Columbia Group's 'Death to America' Post, Igniting Debate on Campus Extremism

Nassau County Executive and leading Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman has launched a fierce condemnation of a pro-Palestinian student coalition at Columbia University following its online post of "Death to America" in Farsi. The message was published shortly after reports of the death of Iran's Supreme Leader.

"To those at Columbia University who posted 'Death to America,' my message is clear: Get out," Blakeman stated in a video statement, framing the incident as symptomatic of a failure by New York's progressive leadership to address what he termed "anti-American extremism" within elite academic institutions.

The group, Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which operates without official university recognition, posted the phrase "Marg bar Amrika" on Saturday. The platform X later removed the post. In subsequent statements, CUAD asserted the deletion was forced by the platform to regain account access but that "the sentiment still stands," according to the New York Post. The coalition views its activism as a continuation of historical anti-war movements and has been a central organizer of recent anti-Israel protests on campus.

Columbia University has distanced itself from CUAD, stating the group is "illegally using the Columbia name" and reiterating that it holds no affiliation with the unrecognized coalition.

The controversy has swiftly entered the political arena of New York's gubernatorial race. Blakeman, now the top Republican candidate following Rep. Elise Stefanik's withdrawal, attacked the Hochul administration's record. "Let's be clear: this isn't activism. It's extremism and incites terror," he said, arguing that state leadership has allowed a toxic environment to fester on campuses for years.

In response, a spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul's campaign highlighted her administration's initiatives, including a first-in-the-nation state plan to combat antisemitism, investments in security for vulnerable sites, and reviews of campus discrimination policies. The spokesperson dismissed Blakeman's criticisms as "baseless attacks" and an attempt to import a "Trump cost-raising agenda."

The incident underscores the ongoing, volatile debate over free speech, extremism, and foreign policy allegiances on American college campuses, a issue that continues to influence local and national political campaigns.

Reactions & Analysis

David Chen, Political Science Professor at NYU: "This is a classic campaign tactic—linking a local campus incident to broader national security and cultural anxiety. Blakeman is trying to frame Hochul as weak on defending American values, a potent theme in a post-October 7th political climate."

Marcus Johnson, Veteran and Parent of a Columbia Sophomore: "It's absolutely disgraceful. Students enjoying the unparalleled freedoms of this country calling for its death? The university's repeated 'non-recognition' stance is a cop-out. There must be concrete consequences for hate speech masquerading as political discourse."

Priya Sharma, Civil Liberties Attorney: "While the phrase is unequivocally offensive, the rush to demand expulsion sets a dangerous precedent. The real test of our principles is defending speech we find despicable. The administration's correct course is to condemn the message while protecting the constitutional framework, not yielding to political pressure for punitive overreach."

Rebecca Torres, Small Business Owner in Nassau County: "Blakeman gets it. Finally, someone saying what we're all thinking. These campuses have become breeding grounds for hatred against America and Israel. Where is Hochul? She's too busy writing plans instead of taking action. It's pathetic."