Vaughn Rasberry

Who Is Vaughn Rasberry?

Vaughn Rasberry is an Associate Professor of English and Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Education at Stanford University. In Stanford’s English Department, he teaches African Diaspora literature and subjects centered on power, identity, and colonialism.

Beyond the classroom, his public record on Israel and Gaza has drawn attention due to his support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and his sharing of anti-Israel and one-sided posts. At a time when antisemitism on American campuses is only increasing, Rasberry’s statements and social media activity deserve closer attention.

How Has Vaughn Rasberry Publicly Aligned with BDS?

Vaughn Rasberry has associated with calls supporting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel when, in May of 2021, he signed a Stanford community letter, alongside other professors such as Thomas Hansen, condemning Israel’s “systematic destruction” of Palestinian homes and lives and criticizing Israeli policies as “apartheid.” BDS advocates for economic and academic boycotts of Israeli institutions and has been criticized by numerous Jewish organizations and lawmakers for singling out the Jewish state.

In a university setting, where academic collaboration and open exchange are foundational principles, his public endorsement of academic boycotts carries professional implications.

What Has Vaughn Rasberry Personally Shared About Israel and Gaza?

Vaughn Rasberry has shared social media content portraying Israel in highly accusatory terms. His posts and re-posts consistently frame Israel as an occupying force and accuse it of committing genocide.

• June 2024 – Rasberry re-posted Craig Mokhiber, a former human rights official investigated for antisemitism, discussing “zionist trolls.”

• October 2023 – three days after October 7th, Rasberry posted that the massacre was a situation of “oppression” that “had to explode.”

• February 2022 – he re-posted the Palestinian Youth Movement honoring “comrades” who support “liberation of all occupied Palestine.”

• January 2022 – Rasberry re-posted on X about Palestine being “stolen land” and referred to Palestinians as being the indigenous people of the land.

• December 2021 – Rasberry re-posted on X about Israeli “apartheid” and called the IDF “violators of international law.”

• May 2021 – his re-post on X referred to the Palestinian “right to resist” in the face of “colonial occupation, not a conflict!”

His language used—particularly accusations of genocide—places Vaughn Rasberry firmly within a group that seeks to deny Israel’s very existence and the right for Jewish self-determination.

Conclusion: What Does Vaughn Rasberry Mean for Stanford University?

Vaughn Rasberry’s public support for BDS and repeated claims that Israel commits genocide establish a clear record. As both a professor and a senior academic administrator at Stanford University, his statements contribute to campus discourse during a period of heightened concern over antisemitism in higher education.

With federal Title VI investigations examining whether universities are adequately protecting Jewish students from hostile environments, public endorsements of movements targeting Israel inevitably raise bigger questions.