Some Democrats broke with their colleagues and began calling for resignations at Columbia University, angered by the way anti-Israel protests have engulfed campus life for a third week.
The “Gaza solidarity camp” has lasted for almost two weeks and has led to the arrest of hundreds of demonstrators.
Activists often oscillated between pro-Palestinian and pro-Gaza chants and anti-Zionist messages mixed with anti-Semitism.
This angered a small number of Democrats who last week even wanted to go to the university to ask it to take action against the targeting and harassment of Jewish students because of the encampments.
Now, some of the Democrats who visited the university are going further, writing to Columbia University administrators asking them to “act decisively, disband the encampment and ensure safety and security of all its students.
Reps. Josh Gottheimer, Jared Moskowitz, Kathy Manning and Dan Goldman spoke at a press conference regarding recent anti-Semitism directed at Jewish students studying at Columbia University last week.
Pro-Palestinian protesters hold a short rally after marching around the “Gaza Solidarity Camp” on the West Lawn of Columbia University on Monday. Protesters marched at Columbia University as the 2 p.m. deadline to clear the encampment given to students by the university passed.
The Democrats’ letter calls on Columbia University’s board of trustees to close the camp or resign for failing to meet federal standards for accredited universities.
“The time for negotiations is over; now is the time to act,” Jewish Representatives Josh Gottheimer, NJ, and Dan Goldman, NY, wrote to the trustees.
“It’s ultimately up to the board to act.”
Gottheimer and Goldman — who both led the Democrats’ trip to Columbia’s campus last week — said that if the board was unable to close the encampments, they should resign.
Yet the two Democrats have yet to call on university president Minouche Shafik to resign, as have all New York Republicans and President Mike Johnson.
“Over the past week, this encampment has been a breeding ground for anti-Semitic attacks against Jewish students, including hate speech, harassment, intimidation and even threats of violence,” the letter said.
“Instead of addressing the root cause of the discrimination and harassment students face on campus, the administration has decided to completely separate some students from campus, which has understandably created an unsafe environment on campus for all students. students.”
The letter was signed by 21 Democratic lawmakers in total.
The protesters did not comply with the university’s request and disbanded the camp Monday afternoon.
Their tough stance comes as other members of the caucus have embraced student protests at Columbia and elsewhere.
Progressive “Squad” representatives Ilhan Omar, Minnesota, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, NY, went so far as to visit some pro-Palestinian encampments to express support and even take selfies with admiring fans.
“I had the honor of seeing the anti-war encampment at Columbia University,” Omar posted on X after his visit to campus.
“Contrary to the attacks from the right, these students are demonstrating with joy for peace and an end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. I am impressed by their bravery and courage.
Omar’s daughter, Irsa Hirsi, was among the students arrested at Columbia University on April 18. More than a hundred other students and protesters were also arrested that day.
Hirsi’s arrest also came with a suspension from her school – Barnard College – which the Democrat’s daughter later described as leaving her homeless and hungry, as we were temporarily not allowed to stay on the campus or access their meal plan.
Many Democrats did not go so far as to support the protests in the same way as the “Squad” members, but many of them questioned whether the paralyzing demonstrations were appropriate.
The letter sent Monday draws a line in the sand for Democrats, separating those who condemn pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests and those who do not.
After the letter was sent, the University sent a note informing students that the encampment would be emptied by 2 p.m. Monday.
If students resisted, they would be suspended and would not be able to leave the semester in good standing with Columbia.
After the deadline to clear the encampment passed, videos were released of professors linking arms to protect protesters, indicating they would stop the university and law enforcement from destroying the tent city.
“After nearly a week of negotiations, it is now abundantly clear that students and activists holed up on campus are unwilling to reach a reasonable dissolution agreement,” the letter said.
“If administrators are unwilling to do so, they should resign so that they can be replaced by individuals who will meet the University’s legal obligations under Title VI.”
Gottheimer’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
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