After several days of anti-Semitic protests by students and faculty at Columbia University, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has called on Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign.
Johnson made his comments while visiting the campus with other Republican lawmakers as they met with Jewish students about the attacks they’ve faced.
“Sadly, Columbia’s administrators have chosen to let the threats, the fear and the intimidation of the mob rule to overtake American principles like free speech and the free exchange of ideas and the free exercise of religion,” Johnson said. “They have co-opted First Amendment arguments to protect genocide, and to elevate the voices of anti-Semitism. They have proven themselves to be incapable of achieving their basic responsibility, which is keeping students safe.”
“We just can’t allow this kind of hatred and anti-Semitism to flourish on our campuses and it must be stopped in its tracks,” he continued. “Those who are perpetrating this violence should be arrested. And I’m here today joining my colleagues and calling on President Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos.”
“As Speaker of the House, I am committing today that the Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are expected to run for their lives and stay home from their classes hiding in fear,” he added. “In the House of Representatives, we’ve already acted to address anti-Semitism on campuses. We have passed a number of statutes to address this matter, and we call upon the U.S. Senate to act upon our legislation.”
Administrators at Columbia have proven themselves to be incapable of achieving their basic responsibly – keeping students safe.
I join my colleagues in calling on President Shafik to resign.
Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are targeted on campus. pic.twitter.com/GARHwgKF0M
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) April 24, 2024
