President Joe Biden said Monday that he condemns “anti-Semitic protests” across the country and those who lack understanding of the Palestinian situation amid the ongoing pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University in New York City.
“I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians,” he added.
When asked whether he thinks Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik, should resign in light of the escalating pro-Palestinian protests on campus, President Biden said he was uncertain about that.
“I didn’t know that. I’ll have to find out more about it,” the president replied.
In his statement, the president pointed to the “alarming surge of Antisemitism” in U.S. schools, communities, and online. He didn’t, however, specifically mention the events at Columbia University.
“Silence is complicity. Even in recent days, we’ve seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews,” President Biden said. “This blatant antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous, and it has absolutely no place on college campuses or anywhere in our country.”
Pro-Palestinian protests erupted at Columbia University and other university campuses in response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ deadly attack on Israeli territory on Oct. 7, 2023.
Columbia’s president has moved all classes to virtual learning in response to the ongoing protests, saying the action was taken to “deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps.”
“That includes continuing discussions with the student protestors and identifying actions we can take as a community to enable us to peacefully complete the term and return to respectful engagement with each other,” she added.
Ms. Shafik said there have been too many cases of intimidation and harassing behavior occurring on campus recently, pointing out that demonstrators using “antisemitic language” to hurt and frighten people is “unacceptable, and appropriate action will be taken.”
“What’s happening at Columbia University is a disgrace to the core values of our nation. Our Jewish brothers and sisters have my unwavering support as we combat antisemitism at home and abroad,” he stated.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) also called on Ms. Shafik to resign, saying the protest at Columbia University’s campus was “antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous.”
Former President Donald Trump also weighed in on the violence, commenting on the police presence at his legal hearing in a post on Truth Social.
“Why not send some to Columbia to protect Jewish Students, and others. The University would then not have to Shut Down. Republicans want the right to protest in front of the Courthouse, like everyone else!”
