Over one hundred pro-Palestine protestors confronted Boeing, a prominent aerospace and defense company, during a career fair at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR). The protest, organized by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation (CML), targeted Boeing and L3Harris, another defense manufacturer present at the event, due to their alleged support of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This demonstration occurred just months after a majority of Cornell students voted in favor of divestment from companies implicated in the conflict.
The protest began with a walk-out at Day Hall, where organizers addressed the crowd, outlining their intentions to march to The Statler Hotel, the venue for the Human Capital and Human Relations Career Fair. Boeing and L3Harris were specifically named as targets due to their inclusion in a student referendum as companies “supporting the ongoing war in Gaza.”
University officials released a statement condemning the disruption, alleging that protestors shoved police officers, created a threatening environment, and obstructed other students’ access to the career fair. However, on-site reporters from The Cornell Sun observed distress among recruiters and university staff, but did not witness any physical violence against law enforcement. The university statement labeled the protest as “unacceptable, a violation of University policy and illegal.”
CML members voiced their solidarity with Palestine, denouncing Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Cornell’s financial ties to weapons manufacturers. Chants of “We will work, we will fight. No more jobs in genocide” and “F*** you Boeing” echoed as protestors gathered at Day Hall, expressing their strong disapproval of companies involved in defense industries and their recruitment efforts on campus.
Around 2 p.m., the protestors marched towards The Statler Hotel, chanting “Free Palestine” and creating a noisy demonstration with drums and pots and pans. Upon entering the hotel, they directly confronted recruiters from Boeing and other companies present at the career fair, bringing their protest directly to the representatives of these organizations offering potential career paths for Cornell students.
At the Boeing recruitment table, protestors presented a letter titled “People’s Court Indictment of War Crimes and Genocide,” along with a list detailing the number of children under one year old killed in Gaza. This letter formally accused Boeing of “aiding and abetting human rights violations, war crimes and genocide,” citing international and U.S. laws including the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the U.S. War Crimes Act, and the Genocide Convention Implementation Act. The Boeing representative reportedly did not respond to the letter. Following the protestors’ arrival, recruiters from most companies, including Boeing, dismantled their tables and left the career fair approximately 20 minutes early, disrupting the event and impacting students exploring potential career opportunities with these firms.
While L3Harris was also a target of the protest, their recruitment table was found empty. According to CML spokesperson Yihun Stith ’26, this absence may have been due to questions posed by coalition members at an earlier L3Harris information session regarding the company’s alleged “complicity in the genocide in Gaza.” Stith suggested that these pointed questions might have deterred L3Harris from participating in the career fair, highlighting the increasing scrutiny defense companies face on university campuses regarding their ethical practices and impact.
Stith further argued that Cornell should prohibit Boeing from future campus recruitment events, stating that “70 percent of undergraduates do not want [Boeing] here,” referencing the student referendum results. CML spokesperson Sara Almosawi ’25 echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the student body’s vote against investment in weapons manufacturers. Almosawi criticized the university for disregarding student wishes and continuing to “invite these weapons manufacturers to take part in our campus culture,” despite student concerns and ethical considerations surrounding careers in the defense industry. This protest underscores the growing debate on university campuses about the ethical implications of recruiting for companies like Boeing, particularly among students concerned about social responsibility and human rights in their future career paths.
The university statement indicated that Cornell Police are working to identify protestors who violated university policies. Students involved may face disciplinary actions, including suspension, while faculty and staff could be referred to Human Resources. The statement also mentioned the possibility of criminal charges for some protestors. This situation reflects the increasing tension on university campuses as students actively engage in social and political issues, challenging the presence of corporations whose practices they deem unethical, and raising complex questions about the future of Boeing Careers and similar industries in the eyes of socially conscious graduates.
