Representative Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, sent a letter to Columbia University leaders urging them to take action against anti-Israel protests on campus that are making Jewish students feel unsafe. I asked him to wake me up.
Fox’s Sunday letter was addressed to Columbia University President Minoush Shafik and Columbia Board of Trustees co-chairs David Greenwald and Claire Shipman.
“I am deeply concerned by the continuing disruption at Columbia University caused by the radical and illegal Gaza Solidarity encampment, now in its fifth day,” the R.N.C. Mr. Fox wrote. “The encampments and related activities create a severe and pervasive hostile environment for Jewish students at Columbia University. “Several Jewish students have already sought shelter.” – Campus. “
“Columbia University’s failure to continue to promptly restore order and safety to its campus is a serious violation of the University’s Title VI obligations to which federal financial aid is conditioned and must be immediately remedied.” she continued. “If you do not correct this danger, the committee will not hesitate to hold you accountable.”
Anti-Israel activists occupy Columbia campus, president faces rebuke from Congress
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R.N.C.) called on Columbia University leaders to take action against growing anti-Israel protests on campus. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
On Wednesday, anti-Israel agitators occupied the South Lawn of Columbia University in New York City for several hours as Shafik testified before Congress about anti-Semitism on college campuses.
A tented encampment was set up on the campus’s main lawn, and protests continued into the night for several days.
The protests at the university are calling for the intifada and the death of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A Jewish student at Columbia University was told to “kill yourself” and kicked repeatedly in the stomach.
Mr. Fox wrote: “The encampment and related activities resulted in widespread anti-Semitic harassment and intimidation, assaults, frequent terrorist celebrations, and major disruption to Columbia University’s learning environment. Recognizes that students are seeking shelter off campus for unwarranted reasons; well-founded concerns about their physical safety and continued exposure to an apparently hostile environment; is.”
On Thursday, new york city Police arrested 108 people who refused to leave the camp and issued each with a summons for trespassing. The university also began distributing suspension notices to students who were arrested.
“This situation is unacceptable,” Fox said, referring to comments from Shafiq, Greenwald and Shipman. It is imperative that order and security be restored without further delay.” The importance of student safety.
White House condemns ‘blatantly anti-Semitic’ protests as agitators involve Columbia University
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather along the NYPD railroad tracks outside the Columbia University campus in New York City on Thursday. (Peter Garber, Fox News Digital)
“Columbia is failing to deliver on these promises as Jewish students are harassed, assaulted, and threatened to the point that they leave campus in search of a safer environment,” she added.
He said students, faculty and staff, including members of campus groups Students for Palestine Justice, Jewish Voice for Peace, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, and faculty and staff for Palestine Justice, were “He is responsible for the disturbance,” he said. She said these groups “repeatedly and flagrantly” violate multiple university rules and, in some cases, even federal law.
“The university must hold the perpetrator accountable in a manner commensurate with the seriousness of the crime, including expulsion or dismissal,” Professor Fox concluded.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Governor Cathy Hochul, and the White House criticized the protests in Colombia as anti-Semitic and dangerous.
“The First Amendment protects the right to protest, but students also have the right to learn in an environment free from harassment and violence,” Hochul said. “Threatening Jewish students with violence and glorifying the October 7 attacks at Columbia University and on campus is anti-Semitism.”
Multiple students were arrested Thursday when officers cleared an encampment on Columbia’s lawn. (Peter Garber, Fox News Digital)
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On Monday, students are planning a demonstration to demand amnesty for student and faculty protesters and for the university to withdraw from “Israeli apartheid.”
Shafiq’s office said in a statement to Fox News Digital that students have the right to protest, but they must not harass or threaten other students.
“As President Shafiq has repeatedly stated, the safety of our community is our top priority,” the statement said. “Columbia students have the right to protest, but disrupting campus life or harassing or threatening other students or community members is not acceptable. We want to hear from Jewish students. We are acting on your concerns and providing additional support and resources to help keep our community safe. ”
FOX News’ Greg Wenner contributed to this report.
