Chicago art professor under fire for calling Israelis 'irredeemable excrement' in wake of Hamas invasion
CHICAGO (TND) — An associate professor for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is in hot water after making a string of anti-Israel comments this week.
Dr. Mika Tosca, who describes herself as “Chicago’s radically optimistic transsexual climate scientist,” harshly condemned Israelis on Instagram, calling them “irredeemable excrement.”
“Israelis are pigs. Savages. Very very bad people,” Tosca wrote. “The propaganda has been downright evil. After the past week, if your eyes aren’t open to the crimes against humanity that Israel is committing and has committed for decades, and will continue to commit, then I suggest you open them. It’s disgusting and grotesque. May they all rot in h---.”
When nonprofit group Stop Antisemitism caught wind of the comments, the group condemned the professor on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The group tagged Tosca's employer, saying Jewish students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago “deserve better than to be taught by this hate filled instructor.”
Commenters sounded off below the post, demanding better of Tosca.
“What a terrible thing to write [sic] I stand with Israel always,” one said.
“Ugh more far left hate being supported by the government,” another lamented.
On Wednesday, Tosca apologized for the comments on social media, explaining that she does not actually stand by such statements.
“Yesterday I wrote some things on my Instagram story that I unequivocally reject and do not stand behind,” she wrote. "I am deeply sorry for writing what I wrote ... and I am especially sorry to Israeli people that I broadly placed at fault for the war."
Tosca continued, explaining that she has long held the belief that no one should be subjected to hate based on their demographics.
“I recognize that my harmful words are an unfortunate distraction from what I feel deep in my heart: all people, no matter their race, religion, sexual orientation, identity, or country of origin, deserve to live in peace, free for hate and oppression," she wrote.
READ MORE | Columbia professor facing removal petition after praising 'remarkable takeover' of Israel
Tosca is not the only professor to spark outrage with anti-Israel sentiments in the wake of the Hamas invasion. A Columbia University professor who applauded Hamas for its “remarkable takeover” of Israel is facing a removal petition with more than 40,000 signatures.
When reached for comment on Tosca, a spokesperson for the School of Art Institute of Chicago told The National Desk (TND) that "one member of our community expressed hateful views," which the school "repudiates."
"Those views are not reflective of the School or the values we as a community share," the spokesperson told TND.