Full Breakdown
New School Professor Corinna Mullin Defends Iran’s IRGC at NYC DSA Event
6/6/2026, 9:50:38 PM
Core Event: Defense of the IRGC at a DSA Teach-In
On the evening of June 6, 2026, Corinna Mullin, a political-science professor affiliated with The New School, addressed the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). In a 90-minute session titled “Islamic Revolution Teach-in,” Mullin praised Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and called for the United States “empire” to be brought down “by any means necessary.” The gathering attracted more than two dozen DSA members.
Background & Context
Mullin’s public profile includes leading anti-Israel protests at City College of New York’s Harlem campus in April 2024, actions that resulted in approximately $3 million in property damage and led to her arrest. She was terminated by the City University of New York (CUNY) system in 2025 after eight years of employment, later reinstated, though her faculty listing remained absent and her teaching status for the spring semester was unclear. She also holds a teaching position at The New School.
Key Figures & Groups
- Corinna Mullin – Political-science professor, former CUNY faculty member.
- Democratic Socialists of America (NYC chapter) – Host organization for the teach-in.
- Cass Roach – DSA leader who facilitated the event.
- Andrew Ghalili – Policy Director, National Union for Democracy in Iran, commentator on the event.
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – Iranian military organization designated as a terrorist group by the United States.
- Samidoun network – Charity linked by the U.S. State Department to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Data & Statistics
- Property damage from the 2024 protest: $3 million.
- Reported deaths of Iranian protestors since late December: over 36,000.
- The IRGC is listed by the United States as a foreign-terrorist organization.
- The Samidoun network has been identified by the State Department as a front for a designated terrorist organization.
Official Statements & Responses
DSA leader Cass Roach emphasized the group’s objective to “disrupt this war machine” and asserted that members should not be judged for “purity tests.” Andrew Ghalili condemned Mullin’s remarks, describing the event as an attempt to “launder” a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. The New School and CUNY declined to comment on Mullin’s current employment status or her statements.
Criticism & Opposition
Ghalili’s critique highlighted the IRGC’s record of human-rights violations, labeling it “the single greatest violator of Iranians’ human rights.” Observers noted the contrast between Mullin’s praise for the IRGC’s “strong gender inclusion” and documented restrictions on women in Iran, including capital punishment for non-compliance with dress codes. The Samidoun network’s alleged ties to a terrorist organization further fueled opposition.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Iran has won this war. . . . its indigenous military industry has produced phenomenal results,” — Corinna Mullin, Professor of Political Science
- “This is having a huge toll on the capacity of the US empire to impose its will. . . . We need to bring the empire down by any means necessary,” — Corinna Mullin
- “We can talk about the Epstein class and the depravity of the ruling class today, which knows no limits on violence. So, I’m sorry, I defend the IRGC,” — Corinna Mullin
- “Frankly, people are scared to be seen as sympathetic to the Iranian government, it’s something that’s really holding us back,” — Cass Roach, DSA leader
- “It is grotesque that a professor at a New York university is standing in front of an American political organization to launder the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — a US-designated terrorist organization with American and Iranian blood on its hands,” — Andrew Ghalili, Policy Director
- “Calling that apparatus ‘self-defense’ and suggesting it deserves funding is a moral disgrace.” — Andrew Ghalili
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The New School and CUNY have not confirmed Mullin’s current teaching assignments, leaving her employment status ambiguous. While DSA members expressed support for Mullin’s remarks, external observers dispute the characterization of the IRGC as a defender of the working class. The extent of Mullin’s affiliation with the Samidoun network remains unverified in the source material.
What’s Next
The event may prompt internal reviews by The New School and CUNY regarding faculty conduct and public statements. Advocacy groups have signaled intent to monitor Mullin’s future engagements with political organizations. No formal investigations have been announced as of the reporting date.
