New York – House Speaker Mike Johnson, The louisiana republicanheld a press conference atop an encampment on the steps of Columbia University, where protesters demanding the school’s separation from Israel-linked businesses have occupied for the past week.
The speaker criticized university leaders for allowing “mob rule” and intimidation tactics to overtake the Founding Fathers’ ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and “the free exchange of ideas.”
Colombia President Minouche Shafik was seen leaving Low Memorial Library after Johnson’s speech.
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik leaves Low Memorial Library on the campus of Columbia University on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The embattled President, who is under pressure to resign from his post, reportedly met with Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson. His speech at the first university. (Fox News Digital)
“We cannot allow this kind of hatred and antipathy to fester on our campuses, and it must stop here,” Johnson said.
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Hecklers repeatedly interrupted him, however, with many people listening to his comments on their phones with PA systems and yelling delayed as the stream lagged behind his real-time comments.
Speaker Michael Johnson arrives at Columbia University on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Speaker Johnson will address the crisis in Gaza, which has been the center of protests at the Ivy League college. (Fox News Digital)
republican North Carolina Representative Virginia FoxxSpeaking after Johnson, he alleged that “inmates are running the shelter” as the camp appeared to have disrupted preparations for upcoming commencement ceremonies and created an unsafe and unsanitary atmosphere in the heart of the Ivy League campus by Jewish students and faculty. He has been accused of creating an intimidating environment. ,
“You took action last week,” he said, referring to a short-lived effort to end the protests that resulted in several arrests. “It’s time to act again.”
If administrators fail to do so, he warned, Congress can take action,
Columbia University moving to hybrid learning on main campus amid anti-Semitic protests
The camp appeared calm on Wednesday, when university officials lifted the lockdown of the school to allow members of the media inside. About 100 people were inside the hedge-lined gate, talking in small groups. People allowed into the space were told not to take photographs of anyone’s faces, not to use drugs or alcohol, and not to talk to the media. Several people who said they were authorized to speak on behalf of the group declined to speak with Fox News Digital.
Some protesters said their comrades had come out to watch the speaker’s press conference or for other reasons. The schedule written on a white board in the center of the lawn said it was lunch time. Several students who criticized the encampment said they believed the protesters deliberately slowed things down due to the presence of the media and the Congressional delegation.
Anti-Israel protesters form a encampment on the campus of Columbia University in New York City, Monday, April 22, 2024. The university announced that all classes will be held virtually today in response to the ongoing demonstrations on campus. (Peter Gerber)
One student, who wished to be identified only by his first name Josh out of fear for his safety, told Fox News Digital that he could hear Protestors raised anti-Israel slogans And kept playing drums all night long.
“The scariest thing I want to emphasize is that we had no idea who was living in these camps,” he said. “I’ve seen people climb over the fence on their way home at night, smuggling stuff in through the side doors.” He said some of the people he saw resembled students he believed had been suspended in connection with the demonstrations.
They also played cellphone video taken over the weekend in which a group of anti-Israel protesters were calling a pair of Jewish students “Zionists” and surrounding them because they were wearing Star of David necklaces.
“It’s very scary,” he said.
As a result, he said, a group of Jewish students began policing the plaza for nonresident students and suspended students.
“None of us wanted to be activists,” he said. “However, we have all been dragged into this.”
Outside the camp’s perimeter, pro-Israel students waved American and Israeli flags, as well as missing person posters showing dozens of faces of more than 200 people who were abducted when the militant Palestinian group Hamas launched an attack on them on October 7. Had carried out a deadly attack. 2023.
A Columbia student sits next to a display of photographs of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)
Columbia students sit near an exhibit of photographs of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the terrorists’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)
“These are existing people, right now, who are hostages in Gaza,” Itai Dreyfus said columbia student and Israeli military veteran from Tel Aviv. “I think a lot of people here don’t understand that as soon as you bring the hostages home, that’s all we want.”
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Instead, he said he was spat upon, followed and harassed on campus.
“It’s loud, and scary, and a lot of Jews and Israelis don’t hang out on campus after the sun goes down,” he told Fox News Digital.
