Florida State University has suspended a graduate student and banned her from campus after she was seen verbally abusing and shoving a Jewish student at the gym on Thursday.
The student - Eden Deckerhoff - was seen shouting "f*** Israel, free Palestine, you're an ignorant f***ng son of a bi***" at the student (who was wearing an IDF shirt) while gesturing with her middle finger. Deckerhoff is a graduate student researcher in clinical social work at FSU. Her mother, Rosalyn Deckerhoff, is reported to be a teaching professor in FSU's College of Social Work.
In a statement, FSU said it "is actively addressing an altercation between two students that has been widely shared on social media."
It noted that the FSU Police Department has interviewed the students and that the matter is being assessed for potential criminal charges of violations of the FSU code of conduct.
Quick response by the university
FSU also praised the quick reporting of the incident, which it said allowed them to address "this instance of antisemitism without delay." Hillel at FSU confirmed that the student involved had alerted the university and law enforcement who subsequently contacted Hillel.
"FSU strongly condemns antisemitism in all forms and follows Florida law which protects Jewish students and employees from discrimination motivated by antisemitism," FSU added.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi thanked FSU President Richard McCullough for the "prompt action" and announced that her assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon, Trump's antisemitism chief Leo Terrell and US Attorney Jack Heekin are investigating the issue.
Congressman Randy Fine wrote on X: "Under the Florida Law that I authored and passed in 2019, this Muslim terrorist must be immediately expelled. As a member of the US House Education and Workforce Committee, I am personally calling FSU to ensure it is done."
He posted again soon after saying "It only took one call. She has been suspended until an expulsion hearing and has been trespassed from campus. "