Student leaders at Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campus town hall in Ithaca, New York, led a crowd of about 2,000 in the chant “from the river to the sea” before she took the stage. The “Students vs. Billionaires” event was held Sunday, September 27, as part of her push to turn out college voters for Democrats ahead of the midterms. When she spoke, she did not condemn the chant.
Story Snapshot
- Leaders of Cornell’s Young Democratic Socialists of America led about 2,000 people in “from the river to the sea.”
- One of them told the crowd, “Long live student resistance, and long live the student intifada.”
- Ocasio-Cortez did not condemn the chant; she joined her hosts in accusing Cornell of censorship.
- The same day, swing-state Democrats were reported to be asking her to stay away from their races.
- In 2023, the House censured Representative Rashida Tlaib over her use of the same slogan.
What Happened At The Ithaca Event
The warm-up came from the Cornell University chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America. Its co-chairs, Mina Petrova and Zoe Reisman, led the chant. Reisman told the crowd, “Student activism is not dead. Long live student resistance, and long live the student intifada.” Petrova said Cornell is “controlled by CEO trustees that are profiting off of genocide and war.” The student group did not respond to requests for comment.
When Ocasio-Cortez took the stage, she did not address the chant or condemn it. Instead, she joined her young hosts in accusing Cornell of censorship. “Whether it’s the issue about Palestine or many others, whether it’s about people trying to fire those who are forming a union in their workplace, whether it’s people trying to speak up about a number of different issues, we have to respond to that first crackdown,” she said. She added, “When we come out in numbers, they cannot take us all.”
Why The Slogan Sparks A National Fight
In 2023, the House of Representatives censured Representative Rashida Tlaib, citing her use and defense of the phrase as “widely recognized as a genocidal call to violence to destroy the state of Israel.” That vote set a sharp federal benchmark. It told universities, activists, and donors that Washington sees the words as beyond the pale. Supporters still argue that the phrase means equal rights and self-determination for Palestinians, not hatred of Jews.
Critics say the chant calls for ending Israel. Supporters say it calls for Palestinian freedom across the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Many Jewish students say they feel unsafe when they hear it on campus. Those feelings shape how schools respond to protests and how lawmakers frame oversight. Hearing it at a warm-up for one of the best-known Democrats in Congress puts the fight on a national stage.
Her Own Party Keeps Its Distance
The chant came the same day reports said swing-state Democrats are asking Ocasio-Cortez to stay away from their campaigns. “The polling is atrocious for her,” one Democratic strategist said. Sam Forstag, a Democrat running for the House in Montana, had welcomed her on the trail before. Now he says, “I don’t intend to be having a lot of folks from out of state campaigning with me over these next 40 days.” He also removed her endorsement from his website.
That leaves the party pulling two ways. Her tour aims to boost turnout among young voters in Democratic strongholds. Candidates in close races, where every vote counts, want no part of her. A campus chant she let stand gives them one more reason to keep their distance before November.
Campus Politics As A Mirror Of National Drift
The Ithaca chant reflects strain far beyond one event. Colleges face legal threats, donor pressure, and student demands, often all at once. Administrators try to protect speech, protect safety, and avoid lawsuits. They rarely satisfy anyone. When Congress calls the slogan a call to violence and campus groups lead it at political rallies, universities sit between clashing authorities and rising emotions. That makes each protest feel like a test case for national norms.
For families, the stakes are simple. Parents want their kids safe on campus. Students want to speak and organize. Taxpayers want schools to teach, not fan chaos. Voters want leaders who set clear, fair rules and then follow them. When they see shifting lines, they assume insiders are gaming the system. That is why a chant at a political warm-up can land like a warning shot about deeper cultural drift.
What To Watch Next
Watch for university guidance that defines when the slogan and related chants cross into harassment or threats. Look for lawmaker letters and hearings pushing colleges to act. Track whether Representative Ocasio-Cortez or her team address the warm-up chant directly. And watch whether more swing-state candidates keep her off their campaign trail before the midterms.
Sources:
nypost.com, nytimes.com, theweek.com
