October 9, 2025 — New Brunswick, New Jersey:
A Rutgers University history professor, Dr. Mark Bray, has relocated to Europe after receiving multiple death threats linked to his public comments on Antifa and political extremism. The threats, which included violent emails and online harassment, have forced Bray to shift his teaching entirely online for the rest of the academic year.
According to sources close to the university, the threats began intensifying in late September after Turning Point USA, a conservative student organization, launched a petition demanding Bray’s dismissal. The group accused him of promoting “militant ideology” due to his academic work on antifascist movements. Within days, Bray’s personal information, including his home address, was leaked online, leading to a wave of targeted harassment.
One email allegedly warned Bray that he would be “killed in front of his students,” while others threatened to burn down his home. Fearing for his family’s safety, Bray made the decision to temporarily relocate overseas. “My family and I no longer feel safe staying here,” he wrote in an email to his students, announcing that all his fall semester classes would now be conducted remotely.
Teaching Continues Abroad
Dr. Bray, who joined Rutgers in 2019, specializes in modern European history and social movements. His upcoming courses including those on terrorism, antifascism, and 20th-century Spain will now be offered online. Due to time zone differences, most of the classes will consist of pre-recorded lectures and asynchronous discussions to accommodate students’ schedules.
In a brief statement to the media, Bray said:
“I’m hopeful that someday we’ll look back on this as a cautionary tale about rising authoritarianism and the dangers of political intimidation.”
University Responds to Security Concerns
Rutgers University has acknowledged awareness of the situation and confirmed it is providing security assistance. “We are taking this matter seriously and are in contact with Professor Bray to ensure his safety and academic continuity,” a university spokesperson said in an official statement.
Meanwhile, Rutgers’ faculty union and several academic freedom organizations have expressed strong support for Bray, condemning the harassment as an attack on free speech and academic independence. The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) stated that threats against scholars “undermine the principles of open inquiry that are essential to democracy.”
Political Pressure and Broader Implications
The incident highlights the growing tension in U.S. universities as political discourse becomes increasingly polarized. The Turning Point USA petition, which circulated widely on social media, accused Bray of sympathizing with Antifa, a claim he has denied. He clarified that his work is purely academic and aims to study the history and ideology of antifascist movements, not to promote them.
Supporters argue that the threats against Bray reflect a disturbing trend of scholars being targeted for research on politically charged topics. “This case shows how dangerous it has become for academics to engage with controversial subjects in the current climate,” said Lisa Warren, a political science professor at Rutgers.
A Growing Challenge for Academia
Legal experts warn that universities nationwide may face increasing difficulties balancing academic freedom with security in a hyper-politicized environment. Social media platforms, often used to amplify harassment, are now under scrutiny for failing to address targeted threats against educators.
As the fall semester continues, Bray is expected to remain abroad for the foreseeable future while continuing his teaching duties online. Rutgers officials have not disclosed his exact location for safety reasons.
The situation has reignited debates about academic freedom, free expression, and political intimidation in American higher education issues that seem increasingly inseparable in today’s divided political climate.
