ASU bans instructor who yelled at woman at pro-Israel demonstration
An Arizona State University instructor is on leave following broad online circulation of a video allegedly showing him yelling at a woman on ASU’s campus and repeatedly cornering her on the sidewalk.
Jonathan Yudelman, a postdoctoral research scholar who taught classes at ASU, including “Great Ideas of Politics and Ethics” and “Great Debates in American Politics,” is shown yelling at a woman wearing a headscarf as she tries to leave the demonstration on a bike, later referring to her using expletives. The video stems from a pro-Israel demonstration hosted by multiple ASU Jewish groups on Sunday. Several people attended as counter-protesters.
“I’m literally in your face, that’s right,” Yudelman says as the woman backs away.
According to an ASU spokesperson, Yudelman resigned his teaching position before Sunday. His resignation will take effect on June 30, the spokesperson said.
“He is no longer permitted to be on campus and will never teach here again,” ASU President Michael Crow said in a statement to The Republic.
Yudelman is not teaching any summer courses and cannot interact with students or employees while he is investigated. ASU referred the incident to Tempe police, who confirmed it is under investigation. University officials will also investigate what happened as part of a policy on employee discipline.
“Arizona State University protects freedom of speech and expression but does not tolerate threatening or violent behavior,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “While peaceful protest is welcome, all incidents of violent or threatening behavior will be addressed.”
Another man, identified by eyewitnesses as Sammy Ben, was filming on his phone as he closed in on the woman.
Footage shows she tells the two men they are disrespecting her religious boundaries. Ben identified himself on social media as an Israel Defense Force reserve soldier.
“Who invited you here?” Ben said. “Go back to Jihad.”
Jihad means a “meritorious struggle or effort” in Islam, according to Britannica, but is often used in Western countries to refer to the “holy war.”
Yudelman confronts other counterprotesters an hour later, at one point calling them “terrorists.” Yudelman could not be reached for comment.
“You’re real proud of butchering babies, huh?” he says in the video.
Dani Asmus, a Phoenix resident, said she came to the pro-Israel protest on Sunday alongside a group of other counterprotesters to bring attention to ASU’s actions punishing students who were at an April pro-Palestine encampment.
Asmus said she saw Yudelman verbally attack the woman. She believes the woman was targeted because of her religion. “I would not want students to be in his presence,” Asmus said. “What he could potentially teach the students is harmful.”
Asmus said she saw Tempe police nearby but added they did not intervene when Yudelman was cornering the woman.
The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations spoke out against the instructor on Tuesday, saying it’s just one example of rising Islamaphobia felt across the nation.
“Such behavior is not only discriminatory but also violates the fundamental principles of academic integrity and respect for diversity that professors should uphold inside and outside of the classroom,” Executive Director Azza Abuseif said in a statement.
The group is calling on the school to fire Yudelman and for him to be charged for any crimes committed.