Dear Commons Community,

Two New York Post journalists were trying to speak to Shellyne Rodriguez at her home about an incident at Hunter College during which she criticized anti-abortion activists.  Ms Rodriguez followed the journalists onto the street and threatened them with a machete.

The reporter, Reuven Fenton, along with a photographer, went to Ms Rodriguez’s home address in an effort to speak with her after a viral video showed her criticizing anti-abortion students at the university.

According to the Post, she shouted: “Get… away from my door, or I’m going to chop you up with this machete.”

The Post’s article on the incident says “she held the machete to the reporter’s neck” after opening the door.

The reporters said they left immediately but were followed by Ms Rodriguez onto the street – with the subsequent interaction caught on a car dashcam and published by the Post.

Hunter College spokesperson Vince Dimiceli told news media: “Hunter College strongly condemns the unacceptable actions of Shellyne Rodriguez and has taken immediate action.

“Rodriguez has been relieved of her duties at Hunter College effective immediately, and will not be returning to teach at the school.”

The New York Post, meanwhile, told the BBC and other news media it was “glad the reporter is safe”.

In the initial viral video that the Post was seeking comment on, Ms Rodriguez approaches an information stall run by Students for Life, a group of more than 120,000 young anti-abortion Americans who want to end access to abortion.

“You’re not educating… This is… propaganda,” she tells the students present. “This is violent. You’re triggering my students.”

In an expletive-filled rant, she then demands their removal and shoves pamphlets off the table before walking away, the viral video showed.

A New York Police Department spokesperson confirmed an incident took place, and that it was under investigation.

Wow!

Tony