New York City Mayor Eric Adams has strongly condemned the antisemitism and hate speech witnessed during ongoing pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, expressing his horror and disgust at the incidents in a statement released on Sunday. The protests, which have persisted for days on the university's South Lawn, have drawn attention to the right of free speech and the rights of students to feel safe from violence, with a campus rabbi recommending Jewish students return home for their own safety.
Mayor Adams specifically called out instances of protesters holding signs targeting Jewish students and chanting slogans like "We are Hamas" and "We don't want no Zionists here." He emphasized that supporting a terrorist organization that aims to kill Jews is "sickening and despicable" and that he has instructed the NYPD to investigate any reported violations of the law.
However, the mayor also noted that Columbia University is a private institution on private property, which means the NYPD cannot have a presence on campus unless specifically requested by senior university officials. He urged Columbia's administration to improve and maintain an open line of communication with the NYPD to ensure the safety of all students and staff on campus.
In response to the growing concerns, Columbia University President Dr. Nemat "Minouche" Shafik announced that classes would be held virtually on Monday, calling for a "reset" as "tensions have been exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia who have come to campus to pursue their own agendas." Shafik promised that a working group of deans, university administrators, and faculty members would try to bring the crisis to a resolution in the coming days.
The university's decision to cancel in-person classes comes after mounting calls for action from various leaders and organizations, including House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, who demanded Shafik's resignation over the university leadership's alleged failure to protect students. In a letter shared on social media, Chabad at Columbia said students have had offensive rhetoric hurled at them, including being told to "go back to Poland" and "stop killing children."
The White House also weighed in on the issue, with deputy press secretary Andrew Bates stating that protesters cross the line if they say violence should befall Jewish students. "Calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous," he said.
The protests at Columbia have sparked solidarity demonstrations at other universities across the country, including the New School in Manhattan, Yale University in Connecticut, and Boston-area universities such as Tufts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Emerson. These protests have focused on calls for divestment from companies connected to Israel and criminal defense contractors as a way of reducing warfare against people in Gaza.
As the situation at Columbia University continues to unfold, the focus remains on the university administration's response and their ability to ensure the safety and well-being of all students on campus. Mayor Adams' strong condemnation of the antisemitism and hate speech, coupled with the growing calls for President Shafik's resignation, underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for prompt and decisive action to address the concerns raised by the Jewish community and their allies.
