The site College Fix reported that Professor Hernández shared an article on his personal Facebook page with the title “Former Israeli Soldier From the 8207 Battalion is Eaten by a Shark in Occupied Palestine.” Alongside the late-April post, he wrote, “Shark Oyate for the win!! #solidarity #FreePalestine.” Oyate is a term derived from the Dakota language, meaning “people” or “nation.”
Hernández then continued to mock the victim with others on the site. When someone asked if the shark was okay, Hernández responded by saying he “heard [the] shark contracted cancer.”When another said that they hoped the victim “was aware of what was happening” and that “it was tortuous [sic],” Hernández reacted by liking the comment.On his page, Hernández describes himself on Facebook as “an unapologetic anti-Zionist, AND a proud pro-Semite in that … [he supports] the Semitic Palestinian people and Semitic original Jewish peoples of Palestine.”He has held high-ranking positions at SDSU, including chairing the University Senate’s 2024-25 DEI committee as well as the search committee for the College of Arts and Letters provost search. He was also a member of the SDSU Press editorial board.
Comments on his original post were divided, with some people agreeing with him, and others calling it “despicable behavior,” especially for a professor.
Violent commentary by liberal faculty is not uncommon in higher education.
We have previously discussed professors advocating “detonating white people,” denouncing police, calling for Republicans to suffer, strangling police officers, celebrating the death of conservatives, calling for the killing of Trump supporters, supporting the murder of conservative protesters, supporting for the attempted assassination of President Trump, and other outrageous statements. One professor who declared that there is “nothing wrong” with such acts of violence as killing conservatives was actually promoted.
Postings on social media outside of school are generally protected from liability. However, that has not stopped schools from targeting conservatives who say inappropriate or controversial things on social media. Conservative North Carolina professor Dr. Mike Adams faced calls for termination for years with investigations and cancel campaigns. He repeatedly had to go to court to defend his right to continue to teach. He was then again targeted after an inflammatory tweet. He was done. Under pressure from the university, he agreed to resign with a settlement. Four years ago this month, Adams went home just days before his final day as a professor. He then committed suicide.
Political commentary on social media is generally protected speech. However, this latest controversy shows how, while purging most faculties of conservatives and libertarians, universities are hiring far-left and radical academics to teach in higher education. They, like Hernández, are given major positions in the institution and then replicate their extreme and intolerant views. Keep in mind that these individuals rarely come to universities as clandestine radicals. Faculty members hire them in full knowledge (and with full support) of their extreme views.
The discussion between Hernández and many of these commentators shows how rage gives a license to many to abandon the most fundamental notions of civility and humanity. These same individuals view themselves as great humanitarians as they strip any humanity from those they hate. They celebrate the painful deaths of those with opposing views with a righteous rage that is addictive and contagious.
Professor Hernández, like so many of his colleagues, is teaching a chilling lesson by example to his students in how to hate without hesitation or reflection. For its part, SDSU will express fleeting concern and then continue the same hiring practices that have turned higher education into a far-left academic echo chamber.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”