CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Dr Mika Tosca, a trans climate scientist teaching at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, posted a text on her Instagram Story on October 16, calling Israelis "pigs", "savages" and "irredeemable excrement."
"Israelis are pigs. Savages. Very bad people. Irredeemable excrement," she wrote, claiming that Israel had produced "propaganda," which was "downright evil" after the attacks by Hamas on October 7 that killed 1,400 people.
"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," the statement continued.
"It's disgusting and grotesque. May they all rot in hell."
Tosca, who describes herself on social media as "Chicago's radically optimistic transsexual climate scientist," has since issued an apology for her statement, reported the Daily Mail.
Mika Tosca's tirade goes viral after antisemitism group posts it on X
The StopAntisemitism group on X condemned Tosca's words, drawing the attention of the School of Art Institute (SAIC) to her remarks.
"@saic_news your Israeli and Jewish students deserve better than being taught by this hate filled instructor," they posted on X.
StopAntisemitism's executive director Liora Rez reportedly told The New York Post, "As reports of antisemitism continue to pour in, we demand administrators hold Dr Mika Tosca fully accountable for her vile bigotry. She must be investigated for her horrible sentiments. Jewish students deserve to feel safe on campus and people like her make that impossible when they're unapologetically antisemitic."
In a statement to the Post, the school said that it was aware of the "hateful views" Tosca shared on social media and that SAIC "repudiates" them.
"Those views are not reflective of the School or the values we as a community share," stated school officials.
Mika Tosca's apology for her remarks
Tosca apologized in a long written statement on October 18, which she posted both on X and Instagram.
"Yesterday I wrote some things on my Instagram Story that I unequivocally reject and do not stand behind. I am deeply sorry for writing what I wrote, and for hurting many people with my words, and I am especially sorry to Israeli people that I broadly placed at fault for the war," the statement read.
"You did not - and do not - deserve that, and I was wrong to post what I posted: I know that my words perpetuated harmful stereotypes. I allowed my reaction to the violence in Israel and Palestine to take an inappropriate and offensive form, and I am taking proactive steps to learn how I can do better and be better."
She concluded with, "I own my mistake and promise to be better. I hope you can forgive me."
Tosca joined the SAIC in 2017 after she worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in southern California. She believes that artists could help scientists better communicate to the public the seriousness of climate change.
Mika Tosca received backlash on X for her Instagram Story
Tosca was slammed on Twitter for her initial stand, as the following tweets demonstrate.
"@saic_news this absolutely vial and disgusting. She may be entitled to her disgusting opinion but that does not mean she is entitled to be in the position she is in. She is in a position that can cause great harm to students and should be let go immediately"
"This is antisemitism masked as social justice. @saic_news, you must act to stop this."
"Good Lord how can someone have so much hate. A teacher who knows about the holocaust and still continue to spew hatred like this. Vile."
"Sounds like an amazing teacher
