Protesters on the Ivy League campus have expressed their frustration towards Israel, while school administrators have pledged to address antisemitism with firm action.
Over the weekend, some members of Congress spoke out against anti-Semitism on college campuses, particularly at Columbia University. Anti-Israel protesters took over part of the Ivy League campus, leading to hundreds of arrests.
Amid the ongoing demonstrations that began last week, Columbia University President Dr. Nemat “Minoche” Shafik expressed his deep sadness in a statement posted Monday. She claimed she was troubled by the actions of some protesters who set up a “camp” on campus and disturbed students and faculty with anti-Semitic chants and slogans.
“I am deeply saddened by what is happening on our campus,” Shafiq wrote. “The bonds of our community have been severely tested and it will take a lot of time and effort to reassert them. Different communities of students have expressed fears for their safety, and we have announced additional measures to address safety concerns. These tensions have been exacerbated by people our size unaffiliated with Columbia arriving on campus to pursue their agendas.
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., visited the university over the weekend to show his support for Jewish students, many of whom have expressed feeling unsafe on campus.
I should be with my family today for Passover. Instead, I’m here at @Columbia University standing with Jewish students who are being harassed on their campus.
— Congressman Jared Moskowitz (@RepMoskowitz) April 22, 2024
To the Columbia President, DO NOT make the same choice as the Presidents of UPenn and Harvard. Protect your students. pic.twitter.com/rJjtXEAkiZ
“Collectively, not just the people here, but on a bipartisan basis, we in Congress are going to do something about it,” he said in a video posted to X.
Read More: In the Ecuadorian Amazon, butterflies provide a forecast of climate change
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., condemned the Columbia protests, during which demonstrators briefly set up camp on campus.
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and assembly, not freedom to harass and intimidate students just for being Jewish.
— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) April 21, 2024
I strongly condemn the antisemitic protests happening on @Columbia’s campus.
“The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and assembly, not the freedom to harass and intimidate students for Jews,” he wrote.
Representative. Cathy Manning, D-N.C., said Columbia must educate its students and faculty about anti-Semitism while ensuring professors are not spreading hate.
“The Department of Education and the Department of Justice must work with the White House to ensure that universities take the necessary steps to keep Jewish students and faculty safe,” she said in a statement.
An attack on Israel is an attack on America.
— Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (@RepDesposito) April 22, 2024
It is an attack on our values.
I let antisemites at Columbia know that their hate has no home here. 🇺🇸 🇮🇱
CC: @RepMikeLawler, @sidrosenberg, @NassauExec pic.twitter.com/ppqLMfH1pC
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y. Criticized.
“This is an attack on democracy, it is an attack on our values,” he said. “It’s not a Republican thing. It’s not a Democrat thing. It’s the right thing to do. Stand behind Israel. Stand behind its people and do the right thing.”
Representative Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, said he was proud to co-sponsor a resolution introduced by D’Esposito condemning the “river to the sea mantra” that many Jews have described as supporting Israel’s annihilation.
I was proud to cosponsor my New York colleague @RepDesposito’s resolution condemning the “from the river to the sea” chant as antisemitic, which passed the House last week 377-44. The fact that 44 of my colleagues can’t bring themselves to condemn it is appalling. pic.twitter.com/o9LbK1ElXH
— Congressman Mike Lawler (@RepMikeLawler) April 21, 2024
He noted that 44 members of the House voted against the move.
“It denies the existence of Israel,” Lawler said of the popular pro-Palestinian saying. “There’s nothing aspirational about that. And it’s appalling that 44 of my colleagues can’t deny it.”