House Speaker Mike Johnson and a group of Republican House members visited Columbia University to address a protest organized by students in response to Israel’s invasion of Gaza. The protestors are demanding the school divest from financial interests in Israel and have created a Gaza Solidarity Encampment. The ongoing protests have led to unrest on campus, with some students feeling unsafe. The university’s president, Nemat Shafik, has allowed students to attend virtual classes until the end of the semester in response to the demonstrations.
The protests at Columbia have sparked a debate on campus, with some accusing the protestors of antisemitism and harassment of Jewish students. However, some of the demonstrators are Jewish themselves, showing a split within the American Jewish community on Israel’s campaign in Gaza. Columbia’s administration has been trying to negotiate with the protestors to dismantle the encampment, but progress has been slow. The New York Police Department recently arrested over 100 activists in an attempt to clear the protest site.
During a press conference at the university, Johnson and his fellow lawmakers were met with jeers and shouts from the protestors. Johnson accused the protestors of contributing to a rise in antisemitism on U.S. campuses and called on President Shafik to resign if she cannot bring order to the chaos. Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, also urged Shafik to take stronger action to ensure a safe environment for Jewish students on campus. However, there are limited immediate actions that Congress or the committee can take in response to the protests.
Johnson’s appearance at Columbia University comes at a challenging time for the speaker, as he recently relied on Democratic votes to pass an aid package for Ukraine. Some ultraconservative House Republicans see this as a betrayal of their policies. Johnson’s visit to the university could serve to bolster his image as a public fighter against progressives and also raise the political profiles of the New York members who supported him. New York Governor Kathy Hochul cautioned against politicizing the situation and warned that it could lead to further division rather than unity.
The protests at Columbia University reflect a larger debate surrounding Israel’s campaign in Gaza and the response of American institutions to demands for divestment. The demonstrations have drawn attention to the split within the American Jewish community on this issue and have raised concerns about antisemitism on college campuses. The calls for action from lawmakers and university administrators highlight the challenges of addressing contentious issues in a constructive and inclusive manner. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Columbia University and other institutions will navigate these complex dynamics and ensure a safe and respectful environment for all students.
