We, the undersigned alumni, students, and members of the Berklee community, are calling for the immediate removal of Nicholas Payton from his position as Chair of the Brass Department.

Mr. Payton has made numerous public statements, over the course of years, that promote antisemitic conspiracy theories and hate speech. These are not subtle, implied, or context-dependent. They are explicit and repeated, and they were published in plain view on his social media accounts. Despite this, Berklee appointed him to a leadership role that gives him influence over students and curriculum.

Among his public statements:

“All these so-called Jews mad, because how dare I make them face the facts of their sordid past and present... Expose how Jewish people have exploited us. Apologize for it and atone and do better.”
“Amazing how Jews always have a ‘negligible’ role in every historic horror that they’ve been irrefutably associated with... but Jews, magically, are clean as a whistle! INCREDIBLE!”
“They still control a large portion of the media and entertainment industry. And I maintain their history in the music business has often been oppressive.”
In a video he shared, a speaker says, “Jewish slave dealers operated in every place slavery existed” and refers to the “synagogue of Satan.” Payton defended the video, saying, “It’s a quote from the Bible.”
Of a Jewish jazz institution founder: “From my vantage point, he’s nothing but a vile predator who sucks the life blood out of the artists whom he uses to help maintain his wealth and status.”
These statements invoke long-standing antisemitic tropes, conspiracies, and blood libels that have historically incited hatred and violence. They are not academic criticisms or expressions of artistic opinion—they are targeted, hateful, and dangerous.

The fact that these comments were made repeatedly and publicly makes Berklee’s decision to hire and promote Mr. Payton especially troubling. Either the college failed to conduct even a basic review of his public record, or it saw these statements and chose to ignore them. Either way, the institution must take responsibility for the harm caused and take corrective action.

We call on Berklee to:

Immediately remove Nicholas Payton from his leadership position.
Issue a public statement condemning antisemitism and affirming the college’s commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
Implement clear hiring standards that prevent individuals who have espoused hate speech from being placed in positions of authority.
Berklee has a long-standing reputation as a global leader in creative arts education, grounded in diversity, collaboration, and mutual respect. That legacy is now at risk. If hate speech is tolerated—or worse, rewarded with institutional authority—the college fails not only its students, but its values.

We urge you to act swiftly and decisively. There must be consequences for this kind of open bigotry. Berklee must show its community, and the world, that it will not remain silent.

Sign your name to stand with us.