House Republican lawmakers are calling on major donors of Columbia University to withdraw their support in response to anti-Israel protests on campus. The lawmakers are urging those affiliated with the university to speak out against antisemitic incidents occurring on campus, including calling for the resignation of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik. Students have been holding demonstrations against Columbia’s investments in companies with ties to Israel, part of a wider progressive backlash against Israel’s response to Hamas attacks. However, these protests have faced bipartisan backlash and accusations of antisemitism, with Jewish students reporting feeling unsafe on campus.
Social media videos from the anti-Israel tent encampment on Columbia’s campus show activists cheering on the deaths of Israeli soldiers and expressing support for Hamas. Jewish students have reported being verbally and physically assaulted, with one student recounting an incident where they were pushed, shoved, and had rocks thrown at their face. In response to these incidents, House GOP lawmakers are urging donors to follow the lead of Robert Kraft, who withdrew his support earlier in response to the protests. They are calling for a thorough review of school funding and an investigation into outside forces influencing students and agitators to engage in disruptive and violent incidents targeting and intimidating Jewish students on campus.
The House GOP lawmakers are also calling for a transparent and thorough audit of all university funding related to the anti-Israel movement on campus and the outside groups influencing students and agitators to participate. Speaker Mike Johnson, along with House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx and three New York Republicans, visited Columbia to denounce the protests and reiterate the call for President Shafik to resign. Johnson emphasized the need for order to be brought to the chaos on campus and expressed his commitment to not remaining silent as Jewish students are forced to run for their lives and hide in fear from their classes.
These calls for action come in the wake of widespread protests on campus and the refusal of Columbia University to address the situation effectively. Students have been camping out on the Upper Manhattan campus and protesting Columbia’s investments in companies with ties to Israel, resulting in increased tensions and fears among Jewish students. With bipartisan backlash against the protests due to allegations of antisemitism, House Republican lawmakers are urging donors to take a stand against these incidents and demand accountability from the university’s leadership. The situation highlights the importance of standing up against discrimination and ensuring that all students feel safe and supported on college campuses.
