The board chairman of CUNY’s School of Labor and Urban Studies resigned Monday — after the public university’s chief demanded his ouster for spreading “antisemitic conspiracy theories” about Israel.
Arthur Cheliotes, 76, had posted theories and lies that Israel was in on or welcomed Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terror massacre as a “pretext” to take over the Gaza strip, critics fumed to The Post.
Arthur Cheliotes, the board chairman of CUNY’s School of Labor and Urban Studies, came under fire for sharing conspiracy theories about Israel on his Facebook page. Emblem HealthHe also posted an online thread that compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler.
“CUNY has zero tolerance for any type of hate,’’ said a statement released by Chancellor Felix Matos-Rodriguez on Monday.
“The outrageous comments endorsed by Arthur Cheliotes, who leads an independent 501(c)3 organization that is not governed by the CUNY Administration, promote dangerous antisemitic conspiracies that have no place in CUNY or anywhere else,” the statement said.
“He needs to step down immediately.”
Cheliotes later said in a statement to The Post that he was stepping down.
A post about the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel that Cheliotes shared online.
“Today I resign my position as Chair of the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies Labor board. A personal social media post of mine has distracted from the important work of an institution I care about deeply,” Cheliotis said.
“I do not wish to distract from its critical mission and work any further,” he said.
The position he held was volunteer.
“Today we accepted the resignation of Arthur Cheliotes,” CUNY’s School of Labor and Urban Studies said in its own release. “The posts Mr. Cheliotes made on his personal Facebook page do not represent the views or values of SLU.”
Cheliotes, president of the Communication Workers of America Local 1180 for 39 years before retiring five years ago, was a pivotal figure in helping create the CUNY “social justice” Labor School and other programs that preceded it.
But the labor honcho had become a potential liability for CUNY as the Trump administration investigates Ivy League schools such as Columbia University and Harvard for failing to crack down on antisemitism.
Cheliotes’ behavior puts CUNY at risk of being the subject of a civil right probe, sources said.
The controversy over his peddling pro-Hamas and anti-Israel talking points had already become fodder on the local campaign trail, with ex-Gov. and current mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo saying Cheliotes had to go.
“Arthur Cheliotes absolutely should not be allowed to stay and poison CUNY’s well with antisemitic conspiracies — he should resign immediately, or be removed,” said Cuomo campaign spokesman Richard Azzopardi before Cheliotes’ resignation.
Pro-Palestinian protestors at CUNY holding a banner that reads “CUNY Palestine.” Anadolu via Getty Images“Additionally, he was the longtime head of CWA 1180 – its current President Gloria Middleton should denounce this hate speech immediately.”
The union Cheliotes formerly headed endorsed City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams for mayor.
Mayor Eric Adams, who is seeking re-election on an “EndAntiSemitism” ballot line, said good riddance to Cheliotes.
“Ever since October 7, 2023, we have seen a steep rise in antisemitic propaganda and conspiracy theories online, which often masquerade as activism,” Adams said in a statement.
“It’s disappointing to see someone who is supposed to be a leader of one of our city’s finest institutions echo these same falsehoods. We must do everything in our power to educate people on the facts of difficult issues and not allow dangerous lies to fester.“
Former longtime CUNY board trustee Jeffrey Wiesenfeld said CUNY had no choice but to sever ties with Cheliotes.
“The failure to get rid of Cheliotes could have triggered an investigation by the Trump administration. This is a public university that is subsidized by the taxpayers,” Wiesenfeld said.
Cheliotes had to go, said Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.
“By doubling down on spreading dangerous and deeply offensive conspiracies that deny the reality of the barbaric October 7th attack against Jews, which included slaughtering young people at a music festival and rape of women, the CUNY Labor Chair is unfit to continue in his role,” Treyger told The Post.
“His harmful and hateful views are incompatible with CUNY’s own policies that are supposed to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all, including Jewish students and staff.”
