GOP Rep. Mike Lawler (N.Y.) emphasized on Monday that there must be consequences for those involved in the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. He stated, “There are consequences to actions.
That’s what some of these folks don’t seem to understand. You can’t call for the eradication of Jews and think everything is going to be just OK because you’re entitled to free speech.”
Lawler made these comments in response to remarks by Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who was among the over 100 students arrested for participating in cease-fire protests at Columbia. Hirsi was also among three students suspended from Barnard College, which has left her without access to food and housing.
GOP Rep. Mike Lawler (Credits: New York Post)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have continued for six days at Columbia University, with hundreds of students occupying the center of campus to protest the ongoing violence in Gaza. Protesters are demanding a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and a halt in U.S. military aid to Israel.
Columbia administrators, led by university President Minouche Shafik, authorized the New York police to arrest students involved in the protests, leading to further tensions on campus. Lawler was one of 10 House Republicans from New York to call for Shafik’s resignation, arguing that Columbia’s campus has been overrun by “anarchy.”
The Continuous Protests Have Sparked Worries Regarding the Safety of Jewish Students
Lawler stated, “You’re not entitled to make threats against people, and that’s why the president of Columbia needs to resign immediately. She has failed in her obligation—her primary responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of students on that campus.”
The ongoing protests have raised concerns about Jewish students’ safety, leading Columbia to move classes online starting Monday, just hours before the start of the Jewish holiday Passover.
There has been a reported uptick in antisemitism since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, although a portion of the protesting students are Jewish. Several protest groups have pushed back against characterizations of their demonstrations as antisemitic.
Lawler joined the calls for Shafik to resign, stating, “When you look at the terrorist attack of October 7, it was rooted in one thing. In Gaza, they are taught to hate Jews and to want to kill Jews.” He continued, “And what we’re seeing on campuses all across America, but especially here at Columbia University, we are seeing antisemitism rear its ugly head.
And these institutions have allowed it to happen. If this were a racist protest, if this were a protest against gay people, if this were a protest against immigrants, you would see the institution crack down on it very quickly and rightfully so.”
In the wake of Hamas’s October 7 attacks against Israel, House leaders launched investigations into college campuses’ responses to increasing antisemitism. The leaders of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were questioned by the House Education Committee in December.
Mike Lawler (Credits: Roll Call)
Their responses sparked backlash, prompting two school leaders to resign. Responding to the criticisms of Columbia’s administration, Shafik said Monday that she is “deeply saddened” by the campus protests.
A university spokesperson told The Hill, “President Shafik is focused on deescalating the rancor on Columbia’s campus. As President Shafik has said repeatedly, the safety of our community is our number one priority. Columbia students have the right to protest but are not allowed to disrupt campus life or harass and intimidate fellow students and community members.”
