By MICAIAH BILGER
WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeNews) — A New York City art professor accused of vandalizing a pro-life student display and later threatening two journalists with a machete has been fired from her job.
Shellyne Rodriguez, of the Bronx, was an adjunct assistant professor of art at Hunter College, a public, taxpayer-funded school under the City University of New York (CUNY).
On Tuesday, May 23 college spokesman Vince DiMiceli told the Catholic News Agency that Rodriguez’s actions were “unacceptable” and she was fired.
“Hunter College strongly condemns the unacceptable actions of Shellyne Rodriguez, and has taken immediate action,” DiMiceli said. “Rodriguez has been relieved of her duties at Hunter College effective immediately, and will not be returning to teach at the school.”
Earlier in May, the college began investigating Rodriguez after Students for Life of America published a video showing her shout profanities at two pro-life students and then vandalize their information table. The video went viral.
Then, this past week, a New York Post reporter and photographer said they went to Rodriguez’s home to ask her about the confrontation, and she threatened them with a machete.
Here’s more from CNA:
When reporter Reuven Fenton knocked on the door and identified himself, Rodriguez shouted “Get the f–k away from my door, or I’m gonna chop you up with this machete!”
Rodriguez opened the door holding a machete and “alarmingly put the blade to the reporter’s neck,” the Post reported.
In a video published by the Post, the photographer with Fenton says, “Let’s get out of here. You can’t do that,” and the two quickly leave the building; Rodriguez goes back into her apartment.
Later, the video shows Fenton and the photographer walking away on the sidewalk outside when Rodriguez appears again holding the machete and pointing it at them. When the photographer tries to take a picture, Rodriguez begins to chase him with the knife and he runs away, according to the video.
The second part of the video does not include sound, but the two journalists said Rodriguez threatened them, saying: “If I see you on this block one more f—-ing time, you’re gonna…. Get the f—- off the block! Get the f—- out of here, yo!”
Fenton said Rodriguez kicked him in the shins and then went back inside her apartment building.
The New York Police Department also is investigating, and Rodriguez likely will face charges, according to the Post.
The college announced Rodriguez’s firing just a few hours after the Post published its report.
The initial incident against the pro-life students took place in early May. Two students from the Hunter College pro-life club set up an informational table to educate their peers about the dangers of abortion and the value of unborn babies.
A video from Students for Life shows the students, one male and one female, standing behind the table as the professor, identified as Rodriquez, berates them.
“You’re not educating s—,” the professor says, directing her comments at the male student. “This is f—ing propaganda. What are you going to do, like, anti-trans next? This is b——-. This is violent. You’re triggering my students.”
When the male student attempts to respond, the professor tells him, “You can’t even have a f—ing baby,” ignoring the female student.
The two students remain calm and attempt to talk with the professor as she grows increasingly hostile.
“Get this s— the f— out of here,” the professor says and then shoves their materials off the table before walking away.
Afterward, the group CUNY For Abortion Rights praised Rodriguez for her “courageous actions” and threatened more hostility against pro-life students in a post on Instagram.
A letter started by the pro-abortion group claims Rodriguez has the “full support of [PSC Graduate Center] union members, CUNY for Abortion Rights, Palestine Solidarity Alliance, and others in the Hunter and CUNY community who refuse to allow anti-abortionists to peddle fearmongering and fabrications as ‘women’s rights’.”
“Her actions to shut down the tabling were fully justified, and are part of a long and celebrated CUNY legacy of confronting groups such as military recruiters who disseminate misleading information,” the group said in the letter.
College campuses are growing increasingly hostile toward people who believe babies in the womb should have a right to life.
Pro-life advocates increasingly have become targets of violence since news leaked last May about the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. LifeNews counted about 250 attacks in 2022, including the shooting of an elderly pro-life woman in Michigan and 10 arson/attempted arsons.
In November, FBI Director Christopher Wray admitted that most of the abortion-related attacks in the past year have targeted pro-life organizations. “Since the Dobbs decision, probably in the neighborhood of 70 percent of our abortion-related violence cases or threats cases are cases of violence or threats against…pro-life organizations,” he told a U.S. Senate committee.
Many pro-life organizations are increasing security and Republican lawmakers are demanding action from the Biden administration to crack down on the growing pro-abortion domestic terrorism. But, while the Biden administration has been aggressively working to expand the killing of unborn babies in abortions, it has done little to stop the hostilities directed at pro-life advocates and churches.
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