ST. LOUIS — A Washington University professor is facing criticism Monday night after posting a series of tweets that multiple groups call offensive.
As she watches the war between Israel and Hamas play out from the safety of her family’s restaurant, Neveen Ayesh admits things have been tense for many Palestinian Americans.
“We have been overwhelmed with our community needs right now given the chaos of the last two weeks not just in Palestine, but locally here in the United States of America,” Neveen Ayesh of American Muslims for Palestine said.
The chaos that Ayesh said extends to the campus of Washington University after Professor Seth Crosby replied to a tweet accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by saying "It is a much-needed cleansing, yes, but not an ethnic one. Israel is not targeting humans."
“When I saw it, I was scared. I was scared about what was going to happen next.”
“When this type of thing happens yes, they can retract their statement, but the damage is already done,” Komel Choudhary of CAIR-Missouri said. “You’re fueling hate toward Muslims.”
Less than 24 hours after his initial tweet, Crosby sent out a second tweet stating:
“I am so very sorry for the anger I have caused by my clumsy words. Israel is targeting Hamas, an organization that has taken the lives of thousands of Israeli citizens. I did not intend to imply that the deaths of the Palestinian people were in any way acceptable.”
“For him, it was just maybe a harmless tweet, but there are serious consequences for innocent lives at stake,” Choudhary said.
“He needs to say that to his students whether they’re taking his class or not,” Ayesh said.
Crosby has since deleted his social media and Washington University removed his biography from the school’s website, but a spokesperson told 5 On Your Side Crosby is still employed by the university.
“I do feel the school is protecting him,” Ayesh said. “With Washington University protecting him, they’re taking a stance and making a statement in itself. We are not going to leave this situation alone.”
“We expect better,” Choudhary said. “We expect better. You’re an educated person at a prestigious institution, we expect better.”
Both CAIR-Missouri and American Muslims for Palestine said they would be willing to sit down with Professor Crosby, either privately or publicly, and discuss his position on his tweets and explain why they are so strongly in opposition.