Professor Threatening Pro-Israel Journalists' Kids Sparks Furious Backlash

A college professor has received backlash both publicly and from the school where the faculty member works after threatening pro-Israel journalists' kids on social media.

The post was allegedly made by Jemma Decristo, an American Studies assistant professor at the University of California, Davis, and warned "zionist journalists" to watch their backs.

"One group of ppl we have easy access to in the US is all these zionist journalists who spread propaganda & misiniformation," Descristo allegedly wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "They have houses w addresses, kids in school," the professor allegedly said, adding "They can fear their bosses, but they should fear us more," followed by a knife emoji, an axe emoji, and three blood drop emojis.

The post was written three days after Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history on October 7. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest-ever airstrikes on Gaza. Over 1,400 people in Israel have been killed as of Friday, the Associated Press reported. While 4,137 Palestinians have died, according to officials in Gaza, the AP said.

People on X scrutinized Descristo for the "threatening" post, calling for action against the professor.

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit that advocates for conservative politics on school campuses, said: "Jemma Decristo is a terrorist and should be arrested immediately." Jason Bedrick, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, asked UC Davis on X: "Do you think it's appropriate that one of your faculty advisors, @jemmaisOKeh is publicly threatening to murder Jews at their homes and their children at their schools?"

Conservative activist Christopher Rufo said: "Decolonization theory means violence. They want to see Gaza-style terror in the USA," in response to Descristo's post. KC Johnson, a history professor at CUNY Graduate Center said: "It seems like the DEI statements California schools demand in the hiring process didn't do much to identify that she doesn't seem disposed to work with all people equally."

Descristo also allegedly posted a threatening message to the U.S. embassy. The post was a retweet of the Iran Observer reporting on Tuesday that mass amounts of people in Beirut, Lebanon, were heading to the U.S. Embassy. Descristo allegedly wrote alongside it "[fire emojis] to the US embassy. US out of everywhere. US GO HOME. US GO HOME."

Andy Ngô, a journalist at The Post Millennial, said in response on X: "Decristo praised the attacks on U.S. Embassies—violence inspired by disinfo that Israel bombed a Gaza hospital." Ngô was referring to initial reports claiming that the attack on Gaza City's al-Ahli hospital that killed at least 500 people was Israel's fault. However, Israel denied this allegation and U.S. intelligence determined that Israel "was not responsible."

Newsweek reached out to Descristo's university email for comment on Friday.

Hillel at Davis and Sacramento, a Jewish center for students in the area, told Newsweek via email on Friday that they condemn "the violent and hate-filled views toward the Jewish community expressed by UC Davis Assistant Professor Jemma Decristo, a member of the UC Davis faculty.

"The idea that anyone on our campus would threaten violence is frightening enough. That the threats were directed toward the Jewish community—including targeting Jewish 'kids in school'—just two weeks after the largest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust is horrifying," Hillel at Davis and Sacramento said, in part, adding, "There is no place for hate or antisemitism at UC Davis."

The UC Davis chancellor, Gary S. May, condemned the post without naming the faculty member responsible, calling it personally "revolting in every way" and "antithetical to the values of our university." May said in a statement obtained by Newsweek: "UC Davis rejects all forms of violence and discrimination, as they are. We strive to foster a climate of equity and justice built on mutual understanding and respect for all members of the community."

Descristo's X account has since been turned to private and the professor's biography has been removed from UC Davis' website. Again, without naming Descristo, May said: "Some have asked why this faculty member continues to be employed at UC Davis. The University of California system has specific procedures for the review of complaints of faculty misconduct consistent with universitywide policies and bylaws. The status of complaints lodged against faculty members are confidential personnel matters, so we are unable to publicly comment on the steps we are taking."

May did say that they would review the matter after receiving "a complaint that a faculty member has engaged in conduct that may violate the Faculty Code of Conduct," noting that First Amendment rights will be taken into consideration.

A letter obtained by Newsweek that Barry Broad, president of the Jewish Federation of Sacramento, emailed to May on October 21 read, in part: "As a consequence of the particularly violent threats in Decristo's letter, they should be immediately suspended pending the outcome of your investigation, so that she cannot attempt to frighten or physically attack students and her coworkers.

"After that, once the investigation is completed and it is determined that she, in fact responsible for the threatening post, she should be terminated from her job. To do otherwise would be to make Jews second class citizens when it comes to protecting their lives and safety."

Newsweek reached out to the following Jewish organizations for comment via email on Friday: The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region, Jewish Voice for Peace, and IfNotNow.

Update 10/20/23, 2:03 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Hillel at Davis and Sacramento.

Update 10/25/23, 3:40 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Barry Broad.