Speaker Mike Johnson addresses Columbia University amid tense protests
NEW YORK CITY (Gray Television) - Speaker of the House Mike Johnson spoke to a crowd at Columbia University about antisemitism amid mass pro-Palestinian student protests.
Speaker Johnson criticized Columbia’s leadership for not clearing the campus of protestors and called on school President Nemat Shafik to resign.
Protestors occupy the main lawn, chanting for a free Palestine. Some also chant anti-Israeli slogans, which some Jewish students said make them uneasy about being on campus.
“If we want to have a debate on campus about the merits of these things, let’s do that,” Johnson said. “But you can’t intimidate your fellow students and make them stay home from class.”
Columbia is giving students the option to take classes remotely for the rest of the semester due to security concerns.
Columbia University senior Lila Bostwick said Speaker Johnson did not bring the right tone to campus.
“I would like for a leader to come and really speak of more resolution and peace for everyone involved,” Bostwick said. “But instead, he really slandered our university and our president.”
Students had a hard time hearing Johnson’s speech because his podium was far away and he was drowned out at times by critical chants and boos.
Columbia University Freshman Lov Patel said he wanted to hear what Johnson had to say.
“It does feel like sometimes you’re not being heard,” Patel said. “But if he’s trying to say something, we need to let him say it.”
Johnson’s counterpart House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has also spoken out against antisemitism on college campuses.
Jeffries calls the intimidation unacceptable and deeply disturbing. He said every American has the right to free assembly, but targeting any group on the basis of race, religion, or ethnicity should not be tolerated.
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