House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) appeared unfazed by a crowd of anti-Israel demonstrators who loudly tried to overwhelm his speech during a visit to the Columbia University campus Wednesday.
“Today we did our job. We spoke out,” Johnson said.jesse watters prime time. ”
Johnson also spoke with host Jesse Watters just before his appearance and spoke out about “Saturday Night Live” alumnus Jon Lovitz, who spoke out against Jewish hatred and unrest on college campuses. I was grateful.
“I wish more people would make their voices heard,” the House Speaker said. “We have to call out this madness for what it is. That campus was in chaos.”
Johnson told Fox News that he believed many of the Colombian protesters in the crowd did not see the problems with their apparent cause. He said many protesters did not understand the scale of Hamas’ massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7, and some even denied a major terrorist attack in the United States in 2001. .
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“We were looking at the faces of a bunch of angry students, many of whom don’t even know what the hell they’re talking about. They don’t know what Hamas did. 7. Some of them denied 9/11,” he said.
Mr. Johnson on Wednesday spoke to House Education Committee Chairs Virginia Foxx (North Carolina), Nicole Malliotakis (Staten Island) and Michael Lawler, the latter of whom is home to nearly 100,000 Jews. Representative) He was present with numerous Republican members of Congress, including a member of the New York State House of Representatives. American.
“Enjoy free speech,” the speaker responded to hecklers on campus.
Speaking on Fox News, Johnson condemned protesters who identify with Hamas and those who, like many in Iran, are said to be chanting “death to America” on U.S. soil.
Host Jesse Watters pointed out that in 2007, then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke on Columbia University’s campus at the invitation of then-President Lee Bollinger.
“Not one of them was yelling at them or yelling, ‘You suck,’ and yet you’re being treated worse than him,” Watters said.
Iranian-American lawyer predicts protesters want another world war
Johnson warned that order must be brought to campus or violence could escalate.
“This is not an expression of free speech. This is not a free exchange of ideas in a public forum,” he said. “This is intimidation and intimidation of Jewish students because of who they are and what they believe.”
“Before I went to campus, I met a large group of Jewish students who were hiding out of fear. They wouldn’t go to class. They were afraid they would be assaulted. It’s not fair.” ”
Robbie Fox, one of the students who met with Johnson, spoke to Fox News early Wednesday and praised Johnson for his solidarity with Jewish students in the face of the escalating conflict.
“Chairman Johnson is committed to the values that we have, the values that we share, and to the Jewish students on campus, that Congress is with us,” Fox said on “Your World.” I really tried to double check.”
He added that on the Democratic side, New York Governor Kathy Hochul also traveled to Columbia to speak to and support Jewish students.
“Unfortunately, Jewish students say that despite pressure from elected officials on universities to combat anti-Semitism, we have yet to see any change. “I would say,” he says.
