Some Democrats have broken ranks with their colleagues and have begun calling for resignations from Columbia University, angered by the way anti-Israel protests have engulfed campus life for a third week.
The ‘Gaza Solidarity Camp’ has been going on for almost two weeks and has led to the arrest of hundreds of protesters.
The activists have often vacillated between pro-Palestinian and pro-Gaza chants and anti-Zionist messages laced with anti-Semitism.
This infuriated a small number of Democrats, who even went to the university last week to call on it to take action against the attacks and harassment of Jewish students resulting from the encampments.
Now some of the Democrats who visited the university are going a step further, writing to Columbia University administrators asking them to “act decisively, disband the camp and ensure the safety of all its students.”
Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Jared Moskowitz, Kathy Manning and Dan Goldman speak at a press conference about recent anti-Semitism directed at Jewish students attending Columbia University last week
Pro-Palestinian protesters hold a brief rally after marching around the ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ on Columbia University’s West Lawn on Monday. Protesters marched on Columbia University as the 2 p.m. deadline to vacate the encampment the university had given to students passed.
Democrats’ letter calls on the Columbia University Board of Trustees to close the camp or resign because it does not meet federal standards for accredited universities
‘The time for negotiation is over; the time for action is now,” Jewish representatives Josh Gottheimer, NJ, and Dan Goldman, NY, wrote to the trustees.
“It is ultimately the responsibility of the Board of Directors to act.”
Gottheimer and Goldman — both of whom led the Democratic trip to Columbia’s campus last week — said if the Board of Trustees fails to close the encampments, they should resign.
Still, the two Democrats have not yet called on university President Minouche Shafik to resign, as all New York Republicans and Chairman Mike Johnson have done.
“Over the past week, this camp has been a breeding ground for anti-Semitic attacks on Jewish students, including hate speech, bullying, intimidation and even threats of violence,” the letter said.
“Rather than solving the root cause of the discrimination and harassment students faced on campus, the administration decided to separate some students from campus altogether, which of course created an unsafe environment on campus for all students.”
“If trustees do not want to do this, they should resign so they can be replaced by individuals who will uphold the university’s legal obligations under Title VI.”
The letter was signed by a total of 21 Democratic lawmakers.
Protesters did not respond to the university’s request to disband the camp Monday afternoon
Their tough stance comes as other caucus members have embraced student protests in Columbia and elsewhere.
Progressive ‘Squad’ Members, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, NY, have gone so far as to visit some pro-Palestinian camps to show their support and even take selfies with adoring fans.
“I had the honor of seeing Columbia University’s anti-war encampment with my own eyes,” Omar posted on X after her campus visit.
“In contrast to the right-wing attacks, these students are joyfully protesting for peace and an end to the genocide taking place in Gaza. I am in awe of their bravery and courage.”
Notably, 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 was also accompanied by a suspension from her school – Barnard College – which the Democrat’s daughter later described as leaving her homeless and hungry, as we were temporarily banned from staying on campus and unable to access her meal plan.
Many Democrats have not gone so far as to support the demonstrations in the same way as the “Squad” members, but many of them have questioned whether the paralyzing protests are justified.
The letter sent Monday draws a line in the sand for Democrats, dividing those who condemn the pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests from those who do not.
After the letter was sent, the university sent a memo informing students that the camp would be cleared Monday at 2 p.m.
If students resisted, they would be suspended and would not have the opportunity to leave the semester in good standing at Columbia.
After the deadline for clearing the camp passed, videos emerged of teachers linking arms to protect protesters, indicating they will prevent the university and law enforcement from tearing down the tent city.
“Columbia surrendered to the radical pro-Hamas anti-Semitic mob instead of securing the campus and protecting Columbia’s Jewish students,” Republican Conference President Elise Stefanik said in a statement after demonstrators were unmoved Monday .
“There can be no more extensions or delays. There can be no negotiations with self-proclaimed Hamas terrorists and their sympathizers.”
Gottheimer’s office did not return a request for comment.