A 19-year-old Hamilton College student from South Dakota, identified as Adyn S. Brenden, has been charged with posting antisemitic remarks on campus. The New York State Police investigated after reports of the offensive remarks being posted on art canvases at the private college in upstate New York. Brenden admitted to posting the remarks and has been charged with first-degree aggravated harassment. He is scheduled to appear in court for a hearing. Hamilton College has suspended Brenden pending further action. Authorities have stated that there is no current threat to students or faculty at the school. The arrest comes shortly after a vigil held by the Center for Jewish Life at Hamilton College, commemorating the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ incursion on Israel. The conflict in the Middle East has led to protests across the U.S., with some student groups calling for divestment from Israel and companies associated with the conflict. The war has resulted in numerous casualties in Gaza and Lebanon, sparking a rise in reports of antisemitic, Islamophobic, and anti-Palestinian bias incidents in the United States. It is unclear if Brenden has legal representation, and further comments from state police and the college are pending.
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