Mike Johnson shows support for Jewish students at Columbia University over anti-Semitism

The speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, showed his support for Jewish students at Columbia University in New York, with whom he spoke about the “worrying rise of harmful anti-Semitism on university campuses” in the country, where camps and marches have been set up against the Gaza war.

Johnson, who called for the resignation of the institution’s president, Minouche Shafir, held a press conference after the meeting, near the tents of pro-Palestinian students at Columbia University, who shouted: “We can’t hear you,” while the legislator tried to speak.

“Enjoy your freedom of expression,” he said, pausing in his speech on campus where he asserted, “they have persecuted Jewish students, mocked them, and insulted them.”

Johnson was with other legislators

The Louisiana Republican leader, who is at the center of a political storm among his fellow Republicans who want to oust him, and who was booed, noted that Jewish students claim that “the atrocious acts of intolerance they have experienced are due to their faith.” .

He also stated that people do not want to recognize the “barbaric” Palestinian attack on Israel on October 7, which led to the war in Gaza.

“Their bravery is inspiring, much more inspiring than some of the activities we are seeing here,” he said, referring to the protesters’ camp of about a hundred tents, some of whom spend the night at the site, where they say they will remain until the University attends. their claims.

Columbia University, the epicenter of the protests that have spread across the country, reached an agreement with students late Tuesday to reduce the number of tents within a 48-hour period.

More protests at other Universities

Johnson, the most recent Republican legislator to go to Columbia to meet with Jewish university students, and who was accompanied by other Republican leaders in Congress, stated that the situation at the universities that have joined the protests “has gotten out of control.” and they have had to opt for a hybrid teaching model.

“Columbia has allowed these lawless agitators and radicals to take over the virus of anti-Semitism that has spread to other campuses,” he stated and assured that up to 200 Universities have a similar form of protest at this time.

Among the Universities where protests have spread like wildfire and there have been arrests are Austin (Texas), New Mexico, Berkeley (California), Yale (Connecticut), Michigan, Minnesota, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington.

“The madness has to stop,” he stated and blamed the study center for allowing “this chaos” and asked its president Minouche Shafir to resign – which other Republican congressmen from New York have requested – if she cannot bring order to the institution. and protecting Jewish students, an issue that has divided Democrats.

Keep reading:

• Texas Governor Greg Abbott approves that pro-Palestinian student protesters should go to jail
• Division in the Democratic Party due to pro-Palestinian university protests
• Anti-Israel protest at Yale University gets out of control and requires riot police