US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday was heckled during a visit to Columbia University amid spreading protests against the Gaza war at US campuses.
Johnson criticised Columbia officials, accusing them of losing control and called for university president Nemat Shafik to resign during a tense news conference. The crowd repeatedly interrupted him, booing him and other Republican lawmakers present.
“We just can’t allow this kind of hatred and antisemitism to flourish on our campuses, and it must be stopped in its tracks. Those who are perpetrating this violence should be arrested. I am here today joining my colleagues, and calling on President Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos,” Johnson stated.
The US House Speaker rejected claims that the protests were protected free speech, expressing concern that Columbia failed to protect Jewish students and restore order.
“This is dangerous,” Johnson said. “We respect free speech, we respect diversity of ideas, but there is a way to do that in a lawful manner and that’s not what this is.”
Addressing the encamped protesters, he urged, “Go back to class and stop the nonsense.”
Throughout his speech, protesters yelled and heckled, chanting “We can’t hear you.” Even during the Q&A, coordinated chants of “Mike, you s**k” broke out, prompting Johnson to remark, “Enjoy your free speech.”
Invokes possibility of bringing National Guard
Johnson informed reporters that if the demonstrations were not swiftly contained, it would be an appropriate moment to deploy the National Guard.
“If these threats are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard. We have to bring order to these campuses,” he stated.
The Republican leader stated his intention to demand that US President Joe Biden “take action,” and cautioned that the demonstrations “put a target on the backs of Jewish students in the United States.”
Joe Biden backs freedom of expression on US campuses
The White House released a statement on Wednesday affirming that US President Joe Biden supports freedom of expression on American university campuses, amid growing protests by students against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
“The president believes that free speech, debate and nondiscrimination on college campuses are important,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated during a briefing.
“We believe in people being able to express themselves in a peaceful manner. But when we’re talking about hateful rhetoric, when we’re talking about violence, we have to call it out,” Jean-Pierre added.
On Sunday, Biden had condemned “blatant anti-Semitism” on college campuses, emphasising that it has “no place” within them.
What is the students protesting?
Student protesters express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where the death toll has topped 34,200, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and are calling on Columbia and other universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel.
The protesters, including several Jewish students, have denounced instances of anti-Semitism. However, pro-Israel supporters and others concerned about campus safety have highlighted anti-Semitic incidents, arguing that campuses are fostering intimidation and hate speech.
(With inputs from agencies)
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