Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the Residence Education and the Workforce Committee, sent a letter to Columbia University leaders demanding they choose action towards the anti-Israel protests on campus that have created Jewish pupils experience unsafe.
Foxx’s letter on Sunday was resolved to Columbia President Minouche Shafik and Columbia Trustees Co-Chairs David Greenwald and Claire Shipman.
“I am gravely worried by the ongoing chaos at Columbia University caused by the radical, illegal Gaza Solidarity Encampment, which has now entered its fifth working day,” Foxx, R-N.C., wrote. “The encampment and linked things to do have produced a severe and pervasive hostile surroundings for Jewish students at Columbia. A Jewish chaplain at the College has advisable Jewish students depart campus because of to the Universityâs inability to promise their protection. A number of Jewish pupils have by now sought shelter off-campus.”
“Columbia’s continued failure to restore purchase and protection instantly to campus constitutes a significant breach of the Universityâs Title VI obligations, upon which federal economic support is contingent, and which must promptly be rectified,” she continued. “If you do not rectify this danger, then the Committee will not wait in holding you accountable.”
ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS OCCUPY COLUMBIA CAMPUS AS College PRESIDENT FACES GRILLING FROM CONGRESS
Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., termed on Columbia College leaders to consider motion versus the growing anti-Israel protests on campus. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Contact, Inc through Getty Photographs)
Anti-Israel agitators occupied Columbia’s south lawn in New York Metropolis for several hours on Wednesday as Shafik testified just before Congress about antisemitism on the university’s campus.
An encampment with tents was set up on the key lawn of campus and the protests continued into the night time for many times.
Protests at the college have known as for an intifada and the loss of life of Israeli Key Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 1 Jewish Columbia University student was instructed to “kill you” and was repeatedly kicked in the stomach.
Foxx wrote: “The encampment and similar pursuits have resulted in prevalent antisemitic harassment and intimidation, assaults, recurrent celebration of terrorism, and major disruptions of Columbiaâs finding out atmosphere. ⊠The Committee is conscious of various Jewish pupils looking for shelter off-campus thanks to their very well-established fears with regards to their actual physical basic safety and continuing to be subjected to what is clearly a hostile setting.”
On Thursday, the New York City Law enforcement Section arrested 108 persons who refused to leave the encampment, each of whom was issued a summons for trespassing. The college also began handing out suspension notices to the learners who had been arrested.
“This scenario is unacceptable, and it is critical that Columbiaâs leaders restore order and security with no additional delay, in line with their commitments ahead of the Committee at its April 17 listening to,” Foxx said, referring to responses designed by Shafik, Greenwald and Shipman stressing the value of student security.
WHITE Property CONDEMNS ‘BLATANTLY ANTISEMITIC’ PROTESTS AS AGITATORS ENGULF COLUMBIA College
Pro-Palestinian protesters get alongside NYPD traces outdoors of Columbia Universityâs campus in New York Metropolis on Thursday. (Peter Gerber for Fox News Electronic)
“Columbia is failing to deliver on these commitments, as Jewish pupils are currently being harassed, assaulted, threatened, and intimidated to the issue where they are departing campus for safer environments,” she additional.
The congresswoman said learners, college, and workers are “accountable for this mayhem,” together with members of the campus groups Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Columbia University Apartheid Divest and School and Staff members for Justice in Palestine. She said these groups have “frequently and flagrantly” violated many college principles and even federal regulation in some situations.
“The College must decisively hold them accountable in a method commensurate with the severity of their offenses, like expulsion and termination of work,” Foxx concluded.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the White Household have criticized the protests at Columbia as antisemitic and perilous.
“The Initially Amendment safeguards the suitable to protest, but students also have a appropriate to find out in an setting totally free from harassment or violence,” Hochul stated. “At Columbia or on any campus, threatening Jewish pupils with violence or glorifying the terror of October 7 is antisemitism.”
Many students had been arrested as officers cleared an encampment on Columbiaâs lawn on Thursday. (Peter Gerber for Fox News Electronic)
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On Monday, pupils are scheduling a stroll out to demand from customers amnesty for scholar and faculty protesters as well as the university’s divestment from “Israeli apartheid.”
Shafik’s business office reported in a assertion to Fox Information Digital that learners have a suitable to protest, but they might not harass and intimidate other college students.
“As President Shafik has claimed repeatedly, the basic safety of our neighborhood is our number 1 priority,” the assertion explained. “Columbia students have the proper to protest, but they are not permitted to disrupt campus life or harass and intimidate fellow college students and customers of our local community. We are performing on worries we are listening to from our Jewish learners and are furnishing supplemental support and means to make certain that our neighborhood stays safe and sound.”
Fox News’ Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
