Eye-opening Consequences: Student Faces Swift Fallout After Criticizing Israel

The fallout continues for those criticizing Israel’s role in the ongoing violence that has resulted in the deaths of over 2,500 people since Saturday. Following a surprise attack by Hamas over the weekend, a law student from New York University’s Student Bar Association made controversial statements suggesting that Israel was fully responsible for the loss of life. As a result, the student’s job offer from a prominent law firm in Chicago, Winston & Strawn, has been rescinded. In an SBA newsletter shared on Tuesday, Ryna Workman stated that Israel’s actions constituted a “regime of state-sanctioned violence” and that Palestinian resistance was justified.

NYU Law School Dean Troy McKenzie quickly distanced the school from the student’s remarks, emphasizing that they did not represent the institution or its leadership. Winston & Strawn, in their statement, expressed solidarity with Israel’s right to exist in peace and condemned the actions of Hamas and the violence they have incited. The law firm stated that the student’s comments conflicted with their values and confirmed that the job offer had been withdrawn. It should be noted that Workman had previously worked as a summer associate in the firm’s New York office.

The repercussions continued as the SBA initiated a vote of no confidence against Workman, seeking to remove them as president. The publication of the controversial message without review from group members had already prompted outrage and even death threats against multiple students. This incident is just one example of individuals facing backlash for their opinions on the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Some CEOs have also pledged not to hire Harvard students associated with a letter that similarly blamed Israel for the violence. (Read more New York University stories.)