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Columbia University Protests: White House Condemns Antisemitism at College Students

The White House has condemned “blatantly antisemitic” statements made during the ongoing Columbia University protests against the war in Gaza.

As protests at Columbia University entered their fifth day, deputy press secretary Andrew Bates stated that students have the right to peaceful protest.

However, he condemned “calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students”. More than 100 students were arrested at a New York University this week.

The arrests occurred after police cleared a protest encampment at the elite institution. Demonstrations have rocked college campuses across the United States for months.

The White House issued a statement on Sunday after videos surfaced online showing some protesters expressing support for the 7 October attacks.

“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,” the statement went on to say.

“And echoing the rhetoric of terrorist organisations, especially in the wake of the worst massacre committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, is despicable.”

“Horrified and disgusted with the antisemitism being spewed at and around the Columbia University Campus,” declared New York Mayor Eric Adams. The mayor declared that anyone found to be breaking the law would be arrested by New York police.

According to a story on CNN on Sunday, a university-affiliated rabbi advised 300 Jewish students not to come on campus due to the unrest.

“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,” the message read, according to CNN.

Jewish student organisation Columbia Barnard Hillel, which is connected to both Columbia and its sister college Barnard, stated that it did not believe Jewish students ought to drop out of school.

However, it demanded that more be done to safeguard students by the city and university administration. According to Columbia University President Dr. Nemat Shafik, the removal of the protest camp on Thursday was a “extraordinary step” that was required to ensure a safe environment.

The daughter of Minnesota politician Ilhan Omar, who faces a suspension from her college, was one of the protesters.

Dr. Shafik had previously testified before Congressmen in support of Columbia’s anti-Semitism initiatives.

Protests against the Gaza War are still happening all around the United States, including at gatherings that US President Joe Biden attends.

Major highways across the nation were recently blocked by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, limiting travel to airports such as Seattle’s Tacoma International and Chicago’s O’Hare International, as well as the Brooklyn Bridge in New York and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.