Biden and New York mayor condemn anti-Semitic protests at Columbia University

The tension at Columbia University does not abate over the protests against the war in Gaza which were condemned as “anti-Semitic” by Joe Bieden and the mayor of New York, the Democrat Eric Adams. And as proof of the continuing concerns about safety for Jewish students, particularly in these days when Passover is celebrated, from today the leaders of the New York campus have decided to carry out online teaching.

“While every American has the right to peacefully protest, calls for violence and intimidation toward Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly anti-Semitic, irresponsible and dangerous,” the White House wrote in a statement released after videos emerged online in where some students, during the protests that have been going on for about a week, appeared to support the October 7 attacks. Then came the condemnation of the president himself who denounced “calls for violence and physical intimidation of Jewish students” in the statement for the celebration of Passover.

“Even in these days – he said, referring to the protests at Columbia – we see attacks and calls for violence against Jews. This clear anti-Semitism is reprehensible and dangerous and must have no place in university colleges, or anywhere else in our country “.

In addition to Biden’s condemnation came that of Adams who said he was “shocked and disgusted by the anti-Semitism being spewed out of Columbia University, such as the sign shown by a young woman with an arrow pointing at Jewish students reading “Al-Qasam’s next target”, or a ‘another woman who literally shouted “we are Hamas” or a group of students who chanted the slogan “we don’t want Zionists here”.

“I condemn these expressions of hate in the strongest terms. Supporting terrorist organizations that want to kill Jews is nauseating and despicable, and, as I have said many times, hate has no place in our city,” added the African-American mayor. , who is a former policeman, speaking about the protests at the Ivy League university after President Minouche Shafik called the police in recent days to clear out the tents set up by the occupying students. Over 100 demonstrators were arrested.

Shafik said he had attempted mediation negotiations with the students several times and they had rejected every offer: “as a result the agents are now on campus and are dismantling the camp”. Adams explained that he had ordered the police “to investigate any violation of the law and not hesitate to arrest anyone found breaking the law.”

Furthermore, Shafik announced the decision to hold online lessons from today in an attempt to “reduce tension and give everyone the opportunity to consider the next steps”. Obviously the measure appears mainly intended to guarantee the safety of Jewish students, especially on the occasion of Passover which falls this evening. “We would prefer that students who don’t live on campus not come,” Shafik said pointedly.

The announcement comes after one of the campus rabbis publicly urged all Columbia Jewish students to return home “as soon as possible.” “What we are witnessing on campus is terrible and tragic. The events of the last few days have made it clear that Columbia Security and the NYPD cannot guarantee the protection of Jewish students in the face of anti-Semitic extremism and anarchy”, wrote the rabbi of the Orthodox community of Columbia and Barnard on a WhatsApp chat, as revealed by CNN.

“It pains me deeply to say that I strongly recommend that you return home as soon as possible and remain there until the situation on campus improves,” the rabbi added. “It is not our job as Jews to ensure our own safety on campus. No one should have to endure this level of hate, let alone in a school.”