• A graduate student at Florida State University is facing battery charges after assaulting a peer wearing an IDF shirt.
  • The altercation, laced with anti-Israel rhetoric, triggered a campus suspension and national backlash.
  • Federal officials and university leaders denounce the incident as part of a wider surge in antisemitism.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (TDR) — Eden Deckerhoff, a 23-year-old graduate student in Clinical Social Work at Florida State University, has been charged with misdemeanor battery and barred from campus following a viral confrontation with a Jewish student wearing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shirt. The encounter, which occurred last Wednesday at FSU’s campus gym, has ignited both public condemnation and federal scrutiny amid heightened awareness of antisemitism on college campuses.

Tensions Erupt Over IDF Symbol

According to witness accounts and police reports, Deckerhoff approached the student and launched into a profanity-laced tirade concerning Israel and Palestine. She allegedly referred to the student as an “ignorant… son of a b****” and accused him of supporting “mass genocide.” The altercation escalated when she reportedly struck the victim on the shoulder and attempted to dump his smoothie over his head.

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The victim told police, “She definitely hate-crimed me,” emphasizing her pointed rhetoric and his Jewish identity. The incident was caught on camera and quickly shared online, resulting in widespread debate and condemnation from multiple sides of the political spectrum.

Campus Ban and Legal Outcome

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Deckerhoff was promptly arrested and is now suspended and trespassed from campus under terms of her pretrial release. Her arraignment is scheduled for September 18, and she is barred from reentering any FSU property.

Despite the victim’s belief that the act constituted a hate crime, State Attorney Jack Campbell, in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, declined to pursue hate crime enhancements, citing minor physical harm and legal thresholds.

Federal Authorities React

The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has reportedly opened a review into the incident. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi commended FSU President Richard McCullough for “swift and decisive” action, stating: “Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Florida—or anywhere else.”

The university’s actions reflect a broader push to enforce new statewide protections against antisemitism, in line with Florida law and federal guidance issued earlier this year.

Social Media Polarization

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The incident has become a lightning rod for national debate, with hashtags like #JusticeForEden circulating in defense of Deckerhoff. Activists have speculated whether she has access to a legal defense fund or GoFundMe, though no verified campaigns have surfaced.

Others have harshly criticized her actions as a case of ideological extremism disguised as activism. Civil rights leaders warn that such incidents risk chilling open dialogue and inflaming tensions on already divided campuses.

Does freedom of expression on campus now come with the threat of physical retaliation?

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