Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, sent a letter to Columbia University leaders demanding they take action against the anti-Israel protests on campus that have made Jewish students feel unsafe. The letter, addressed to Columbia President Minouche Shafik and Columbia Trustees Co-Chairs David Greenwald and Claire Shipman, expressed concerns about the chaos caused by the unlawful Gaza Solidarity Encampment. Foxx emphasized that the encampment and related activities have created a hostile environment for Jewish students and urged the university to rectify the situation promptly.
Anti-Israel agitators occupied Columbia’s south lawn in New York City for hours as Shafik testified before Congress about antisemitism on the university’s campus. An encampment with tents was set up on the main lawn, and protests continued for several days, with calls for an intifada and the death of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The protests led to antisemitic harassment, assaults, and disruptions of the learning environment. Foxx called for immediate action to restore order and safety on campus, citing the well-founded fears of Jewish students’ physical safety and hostility they have faced.
Protests at Columbia University have resulted in police arresting 108 people who refused to leave the encampment, with each issued a summons for trespassing. The university began handing out suspension notices to the students who were arrested. Foxx condemned the ongoing antisemitic harassment and intimidation faced by Jewish students and called on Columbia’s leaders to hold accountable the groups responsible for the chaos. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and the White House have also criticized the protests as antisemitic and dangerous, emphasizing the importance of a harassment-free environment for students.
Foxx highlighted the responsibility of students, faculty, and staff for the mayhem on campus, including members of groups like Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, and Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine. She called for decisive action against these groups, including expulsion and termination of employment, to address the severity of their offenses. The congresswoman stressed the need for Columbia University to fulfill its commitments to student safety and restore order on campus without delay.
Students are planning a walkout to demand amnesty for student and faculty protesters and the university’s divestment from “Israeli apartheid.” Shafik’s office stated that while students have the right to protest, they are not allowed to disrupt campus life or harass and intimidate others. Assurances were made to address concerns raised by Jewish students and provide additional support and resources to ensure the safety of the campus community. The ongoing situation at Columbia University has sparked widespread condemnation from various officials and calls for immediate action to address the antisemitism and hostility faced by Jewish students.
