Who Is Khymani James? Columbia Protest Organizer's Remarks Spark Fury

Footage has emerged of Khymani James, a student at Columbia University and a leading figure in the ongoing "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at the college, making incendiary statements—including "Zionists don't deserve to live"—during a video he appeared to have recorded in January.

The video was unearthed by the Daily Wire, a conservative-leaning media outlet, after which James posted a statement on X, saying: "What I said was wrong. Every member of our community deserves to feel safe without qualification."

On social media, James' resurfaced remarks have sparked a backlash from users, with one writing: "The internet lives forever. We know your true feelings. You are a clear and present danger to all people."

After Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking hundreds more hostage, the Israeli military initiated a major air and ground operation in Gaza. The move has resulted in more than 34,000 deaths, according to the territory's Hamas-run Health Ministry, and has sparked demonstrations across the world.

On April 17, students at Columbia University established a protest camp, dubbed the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment," to demonstrate against ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza. Newsweek has contacted Khymani James and the Columbia University press office by X direct message and email, respectively, outside normal working hours.

Thursday, the Daily Wire published a video of James making controversial remarks both during and after a virtual meeting with two Columbia University employees who expressed concern about earlier remarks he had made and indicated the matter could go to a disciplinary hearing.

Speaking to one of the employees, James read an earlier statement he had made: "Zionists in my DMs [direct messages] wanting to meet up and fight. I don't fight to injure or for there to be a winner or loser. I fight to kill."

He went on to say that "during the Haitian Revolution, the Haitian slaves had to kill their masters in order to gain their independence. These were masters who were white supremacists. What is a Zionist? A white supremacist."

"I'm not saying I'm going to go out and start killing Zionists," James added. "What I'm saying is that if an individual who identifies as a Zionist threatens my physical safety in person—i.e., puts their hands on me—I'm going to defend myself, and in that case scenario it may come to a point where I don't know when to stop."

After the conversation with the Columbia staff members, James addressed the camera directly, saying: "Why would we want people who are supporters of genocide to live? I'm confused."

"Zionists, along with all white supremacists, need to not exist because they actively harm and kill vulnerable people," he said, adding: "Be glad, be grateful, that I'm not just going out and murdering Zionists. I've never murdered anyone in my life, and I hope to keep it that way."

In the statement James published after the footage went viral online, he said he regretted his remarks.

He added: "I also want people to have more context for my words, which I regret. Far right agitators went through months of my social media feed until they found a clip that they edited without context.

"When I recorded it, I had been feeling unusually upset after an online mob targeted me because I am visibly queer and Black."

James went on to say that both the "Gaza Solidary Encampment" and Columbia University Apartheid Divest group had "made clear that my words in January, prior to my involvement in CUAD, are not in line with the CUAD community guidelines."

Responding to James' statement, an X user wrote: "The clip is so egregious, you can't qualify it by saying 'well I felt bad and bad things were said to me.' Your statement also fails to say the word 'sorry.'"

Another user commented: "What's up with pro Palestinians and their desire to kill? This is Khymani James, a leader of Columbia University's anti-Israel Gaza Solidarity Encampment. Just sick?"

Earlier this week James organized a human chain to block a group of what he said were Zionists from entering the protest camp, urging protesters to take "one step forward" in unison and "push them out of the camp."

In March 2021, James, then a 17-year-old high school senior, resigned as the Boston School Committee's student representative following what he said were "racist and adultist" attitudes from administrators, The Boston Globe reported.

Announcing his resignation on Twitter James wrote: "I wanted to inform the public, and my constituents, that I have officially resigned from the Boston Student Advisory Council as well as the Boston School Committee."

They added: "The overall structures within both of these bodies are ineffective + harmful to the progressive agenda of students."

Prior to this James gave an interview to The Bay State Banner where they said their "ultimate destination is Congress."

They commented: "Throughout college, I want to work for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She has been a huge inspiration, not only to me, but to my friends, to the people I work with...

"I always tell people that the ultimate destination is Congress, and everything that happens in between is just life. But the ultimate destination is Congress."

James also said: "We need to decolonize the curriculum and implement the social justice framework. That just needs to happen, that's just non-negotiable."

Update 4/26/24 10:50 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.