Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York on Monday emphasized the need for “consequences” for those involved in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.
“That means actions have consequences. Some people don’t seem to understand that. You can’t demand the eradication of Jews and think that because you have freedom of speech everything will be fine.” Lawler said Monday in an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill.”
Lawler was responding to comments from Ira Hirschi, the daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who said she was one of the more than 100 people arrested last week for participating in ceasefire protests at Columbia University. He was one of the students.
Hirschi was one of three students suspended from Barnard College and cut off from access to food and housing.in Teen Vogue magazine interviewHirschi said she is concerned about access to food because she has been “basically evicted” since her suspension and relies on the dining plan for her meals.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have continued for the sixth day at Columbia University, with hundreds of students occupying the center of campus in protest of continued violence in Gaza. The demonstrators are calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and an end to US military aid to Israel.
Last week, Colombian authorities, led by University President Minouche Shafiq, authorized New York police to arrest students involved in protests, further escalating tensions on campus.
Mr. Lawler was one of 10 House Republicans from New York who called on Mr. Shafik to resign, claiming that Columbia University’s campus was overrun by “anarchy.”
“You have no right to threaten people, and that’s why the president of Colombia needs to resign immediately,” Lawler said on “The Hill.” “She failed in her duty, her primary responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of students on campus.”
Ongoing protests have raised concerns about the safety of Jewish students, prompting Columbia University to move classes online starting Monday, hours before the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover.
Anti-Semitism has been on the rise since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, but the majority of protesting students are Jewish. Some protest groups have pushed back against what they see as anti-Semitic demonstrations.
Asked why he joined in calling for Shafiq’s resignation, Lawler said: “If you look at the October 7th terrorist attack, it had one root cause: people in Gaza hate Jews and want to kill Jews.” They are taught how to think.”
“And what we’re seeing on campuses across America, especially here at Columbia University, is anti-Semitism rearing its ugly head,” he continued. “And these institutions allowed that to happen. If this was a racist protest, if this was an anti-gay protest, if this was an anti-immigration protest, If so, this facility will crack down on it very quickly and understandably.”
Following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, House leadership launched an investigation into college campuses’ responses to rising anti-Semitism. Leaders of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were grilled by the House Education Committee in December. Their response sparked a backlash that led to the resignation of two of the three school leaders.
Shafik responded to criticism of the Colombian regime, said in a statement on Monday. She said she was “deeply saddened” by the campus protests.
“The decibels of our disagreements have only increased in recent days,” she said. “These tensions are being exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia University and have come to campus to pursue their own agendas. A reset is needed.”
The Hill has reached out to Columbia University for further comment.
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