‘Blatantly Antisemitic, Unconscionable’: White House Condemns Pro-Hamas Protests at Columbia University

On Sunday, the White House issued a statement condemning the ongoing anti-Israel protests with violent rhetoric taking place at Columbia University in New York City. 

White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates tells The Times of Israel:

While every American has the right to peaceful protest, calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly Antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous – they have absolutely no place on any college campus, or anywhere in the United States of America. 

And echoing the rhetoric of terrorist organizations, especially in the wake of the worst massacre committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, is despicable. We condemn these statements in the strongest terms. 

While President Joe Biden has not personally made a statement about the violent rhetoric and targeting of Jewish students on college campuses, Josh Kraushaar, editor-in-chief of Jewish Insider points out that this is the first public statement the administration has made on antisemitism since February. 

The statement from the Biden Administration comes after protests escalated on the Columbia University campus through the night on Saturday. As RedState previously reported:

On Saturday, counter-protestors also assembled, waving the flag of Israel and singing “One Day,” a song about peace by reggae musician Matisayhu. A pro-Hamas supporter stood nearby with a sign that read, “Al-Qassam’s next targets,” and an arrow pointing to the Jewish students, calling for a violent attack on them. “Al-Qassam” refers to the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 attacks on Israel. 

A sophomore at Barnard, a college at Columbia, told the New York Post,

People were yelling at Hamas to strike Tel Aviv.

The student also said that the Jewish students’ right to peacefully protest had been taken away, saying:

That’s a call to violence. It’s totally out of control. It’s total anarchy.

On Sunday morning, prominent Columbia University Rabbi Elie Buechler addressed Jewish students in a message on WhatsApp, suggesting that they leave campus and not return due to growing safety concerns.

The Rabbi wrote:

The events of the last few days, especially last night, have made it clear that Columbia University’s Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students’ safety in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy.

It deeply pains me to say that I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved.

It is not our job as Jews to ensure our own safety on campus. No one should have to endure this level of hatred, let alone at school.

Many Americans are watching to see if the White House’s words turn into actions as Jewish students are unprotected and increasingly unsafe on college campuses nationally. 

Read More:

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Columbia University Rabbi Asks Jewish Students to Go Home and Not Return Amid Pro-Hamas Protests