Democratic New York Gov. Cathy Hochul on Monday declined to deploy the National Guard to quell an anti-Israel protest at Columbia University, despite mounting pressure from lawmakers and experts. , argued that the deployment of the National Guard was legally justified, if not mandatory.
The NYPD also said that despite in-person classes being canceled on Monday due to concerns for the safety of Jewish students, they are still taking action on campus as tensions continue to rise on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover. has not occurred.
“The fact that we had to teach remotely today because we couldn’t keep our students safe is shameful,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (RN.Y.) said in an interview with Fox News Digital. . “There should certainly be an NYPD on campus, and I’m sure the governor would offer that.” [the] Deploy the National Guard to shut down these horrific anti-Semitic incidents. ”
Malliotakis added his voice to the chorus calling for the resignation of Columbia University President Dr. Nemat “Minoush” Shafik. Malliotakis said Shafik allowed anti-Semitism to “fester on campus for months.” Shafiq, who was called to testify before Congress to raise the issue of schools’ inaction against anti-Semitism after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, said Monday that the school would “resolve this crisis” within days. He said he hopes that “this will happen.”
Shafik did not respond to a question on Fox News Digital asking whether he would call on the NYPD and National Guard to quell the protests and break up the Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
Ivy League anti-Israel agitators’ protests spiral into ‘genuine terrorist organization’, professor warns
Columbia University students returned to the campus lawn area Friday morning to continue their anti-Israel protests, saying they would “stay the course” until their demands are met. (FNTV)
Ilya Shapiro, director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, said the use of the National Guard would be a legitimate step to restore “public order” if requested by the governor or the Biden administration.
“And the justification for that would be Title VI, which guarantees equal educational opportunity,” Shapiro told FOX News Digital. “And Jewish students are being denied that, and the argument is that Columbia has failed in its obligation to enforce it.”
Title VI, part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, states that “no person in the United States shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be denied participation because of race, color, or national origin. shall not be refused.” Being discriminated against under a program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. ”
“Eisenhower sent the 101st to Little Rock. It’s time for Biden to deploy the National Guard to universities to protect Jewish Americans.” — Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri
Shapiro, a legal scholar who resigned from his brief stint as executive director of Georgetown University’s Constitution Center in 2022 because of controversy over free speech, said all speech, including speech that incites violence or death, is constitutionally prohibited. He pointed out that it is not protected by the First Amendment. This puts many anti-Israel activists in a position that is against the law.
The university announced that all classes will be held virtually in response to ongoing demonstrations on campus. (Peter Garber)
“Similarly, if you beat someone, harass someone, falsely imprison someone, or vandalize someone, you have no defense,” he says.
Other lawmakers on Monday objected to the X, calling on the National Guard to disperse demonstrators who chanted anti-Semitic chants and supported the Islamist terror group Hamas as “freedom fighters.”
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”[Former President] Eisenhower sent the 101st Army [Airborne Division] “It’s time for Biden to deploy the National Guard to universities to protect Jewish Americans,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, told X on Monday.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) wrote an op-ed in the New York Times in 2020 advocating for the use of the military to quell riots that broke out during social justice protests nationwide that summer. said on the X program: Neither the NYPD nor Kathy Hochul will deploy the National Guard, but Joe Biden has a duty to quell these rioters. ”
The university announced that all classes will be held virtually in response to ongoing demonstrations on campus. (Peter Garber)
A crowd occupying the grounds of Columbia University has hurled violent threats against Jewish students since last week. Colombians set up camps, waved Palestinian flags and refused to leave.
Some agitators chanted “We are Hamas,” while others called for the expulsion of Zionists.
“The First Amendment protects the right to protest, but students also have the right to learn in an environment free of harassment and violence,” Hochul said in a statement Monday. “Threatening Jewish students with violence and glorifying the October 7 attacks at Columbia University and on campus is anti-Semitism.”
Still, she refused to ask authorities to disband the encampment. Hochul’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for the National Guard to be called in.
Meanwhile, Shafik said he was “deeply saddened” by the specific actions of the agitators who have formed “encampments” on campus and infuriated students and faculty with anti-Semitic slogans and chants. Stated.
“I know there’s a lot of debate about whether we should use police on campus, and I’m happy to participate in that discussion. But if we better adhere to our rules and effective enforcement mechanisms, , we know that we won’t have to rely on the police to keep our communities safe and to hold anyone else accountable,” she said. “We should be able to do this ourselves.”
Columbia rabbi tells Jewish students to leave campus, school and NYPD warn ‘safety cannot be guaranteed’
Anti-Israel agitators set up an encampment on the Columbia University campus in New York City on April 22, 2024. (Peter Garber)
This statement came after the Orthodox rabbis. columbia university Barnard College sent a message to Jewish students urging them to leave campus and go home after protesters were caught on camera claiming support for terrorism and full support of violence against Jewish students.
Rabbi Elie Buechler sent a message to hundreds of students, advising them to leave “as soon as possible” until the situation improves, saying, “What we are witnessing on and around campus is horrifying and tragic. That’s the point,” he pointed out.
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Adams, a Democrat, said in a statement that he condemned “this hate speech in the strongest terms.”
“Support terrorist organization The intent to kill Jews is disgusting and despicable. As I have said repeatedly, hate has no place in our city. I have directed the NYPD to investigate all reported violations of the law. “Rest assured, the NYPD will not hesitate to arrest anyone found to have broken the law,” Adams said. I will not become a professional agitator trying to sow seeds.” Chaos and division in our city will not succeed. ”
By Monday afternoon, NYPD remained on standby around campus. Law enforcement officials told reporters that Columbia University does not want the NYPD on campus, but would be on the grounds if violence erupts.
“Generally speaking, Columbia University, and this goes back many years, does not want the NYPD on campus. That is the university’s decision,” said Michael Garber, NYPD deputy commissioner of legal affairs. told reporters.
FOX News’ Daniel Wallace contributed to this report.
