NYC Mayor on Columbia protests: 'We will not be a city of lawlessness'
The mayor cited several examples of violent rhetoric used on campus, and pledged that the police were ready to respond to law-breaking; he noted, however, that the university is private property.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he is “horrified and disgusted” with the antisemitism being spewed at and around Columbia University’s campus, according to a statement from the mayor’s office on Sunday night.
Adams said he condemns the hate speech heard during the protests such as a woman who yelled ‘We are Hamas’ and another woman who held a sign with an arrow pointing to Jewish students stating ‘Al-Qasam’s Next Targets.’
Adams said supporting an organization that threatens to kill Jews is “sickening and despicable.”
“As I have repeatedly said, hate has no place in our city, and I have instructed the NYPD to investigate any violation of law that is reported,” Adams said. “Rest assured, the NYPD will not hesitate to arrest anyone who is found to be breaking the law.”
Adams said New York City will not be a city of lawlessness, and those professional agitators seeking to seize the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to sow chaos and division in our city will not succeed.
The mayor noted, however, that he wanted to be “abundantly clear” that Columbia is a private institution on private property and the NYPD cannot have a presence on campus unless requested by senior university officials.
The NYPD has an increased presence of officers situated around the campus to protect students and all New Yorkers, Adams said, adding that police are ready to respond if Columbia makes another request for their presence on campus when officers successfully cleared protest encampments on Columbia’s South Lawn without any injuries.
Adams said he urges Columbia senior administration officials to improve and maintain open lines of communication with the NYPD.
“I know the conflict in the Middle East has left many of us grieving and angry. New Yorkers have every right to express their sorrow, but that heartbreak does not give anyone the right to harass or threaten others or to physically harm someone they disagree with,” Adams said.
Adams said as mayor of the city with the largest Jewish community in the world outside of Israel, the plain these protests are causing Jews across the globe is not lost on him, especially as Passover tomorrow starts Monday evening.
“I also see and hear the pain of those protesting in support of innocent lives being lost in Gaza,” Adams said. “In this moment of heightened tension around the world, we stand united against hate.”
Rep Nicole Malliotakis calls on Columbia president to resign
Meanwhile, US Representative Nicole Malliotakis, who represents the Staten Island and Bay Ridge, Brooklyn areas of New York City in the House of Representatives, called on Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign, and raised the specter of pulling federal funding from universities that "blatantly allow antisemitism."
In a post to X on Sunday, Malliotakis wrote, "It’s clear Columbia University President Shafik can’t get her school under control or protect her students & she should resign.
"The gross antisemitism being displayed against Jewish students at Columbia University is horrific, unacceptable and the reason I introduced legislation to strip federal funding from colleges that blatantly allow antisemitism & don’t hold those responsible accountable."
It’s clear Columbia University President Shafik can’t get her school under control or protect her students & she should resign. The gross antisemitism being displayed against Jewish students at Columbia University is horrific, unacceptable and the reason I introduced legislation… pic.twitter.com/mmm1tRyu9S
— Office of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (@RepMalliotakis) April 21, 2024
Rep Torres: "Appeasing antisemitism never works"
US Rep. Ritchie Torres, who represents much of the Bronx borough of New York City in the House of Representatives, also weighed in via a post to X on Sunday.
"The crisis at Columbia University underscores the urgent need for moral clarity against antisemitism," Torres wrote.
"College administrators should start defending their Jewish constituents and students and stop pandering to the antisemites who seek their destruction."
The crisis at Columbia University underscores the urgent need for moral clarity against antisemitism. College administrators should start defending their Jewish constituents and students and stop pandering to the antisemites who seek their destruction. Appeasing…
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) April 21, 2024
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