Bizarre
ACC Professor's Shocking Claim: The U.S. Let The Holocaust Get Worse
Austin Community College Professor Sparks Outrage with Claim U.S. Allowed Holocaust to Worsen to Justify Israel’s Creation
A viral video of Austin Community College (ACC) adjunct professor Roy Casagranda alleging that the United States deliberately permitted the Holocaust to escalate to bolster support for Israel’s establishment has triggered widespread condemnation and calls for his dismissal.
In the clip, Casagranda claims U.S. policymakers "wanted the Holocaust to be as bad as possible" and "just wanted more Jews to die" to justify a Jewish state, prompting accusations of antisemitism and historical distortion.
The remarks, drawn from a lecture titled "Zionism: An Extension of Antisemitism?" were first amplified by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
Casagranda asserted that U.S. inaction during the Holocaust was a calculated move to amplify Jewish suffering for geopolitical ends, a claim historians widely reject as baseless.
He is a Ph.D. holder from the University of Texas at Austin and a long-time adjunct in ACC’s Government Department, is known for provocative lectures on Middle Eastern politics and U.S. foreign policy, some circulating online in pro-Palestinian communities.
Earlier clips, including a June 2025 YouTube short stating "Palestinians had nothing to do with the Holocaust," have been shared widely. A May 2025 video also referenced U.S. refusal of Jewish refugees over espionage fears, hinting at themes now central to the controversy.
The backlash was swift. Jewish advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League’s Austin chapter, labeled the comments "Holocaust minimization" and a "modern blood libel," while the Republican Club of Austin demanded ACC investigate Casagranda’s conduct.
Critics argue the remarks echo antisemitic tropes about Jewish manipulation of global events, with one user stating, "This is taxpayer-funded conspiracy nonsense in a classroom."
The college’s history of reviewing faculty conduct, as seen in a 2023 anti-Israel protest case, suggests a potential inquiry, though Casagranda’s adjunct status may complicate disciplinary measures under academic freedom policies.