New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced on Monday that he will no longer donate to Columbia University due to ongoing pro-Palestinian protests at his alma mater, which have entered their sixth day.
Through his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, Kraft expressed his deep sadness at the “virulent hate” present at Columbia and other schools across the nation. He stated that he has lost confidence in the university’s ability to protect its students and staff and will not continue supporting the institution until corrective action is taken.
Kraft urged Columbia and its leadership to take a stand against hate by immediately ending the protests and working to regain the respect and trust of those who have lost faith in the institution.
New England Patriots owner (Credits: Fox Business)
The pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which have resulted in over 100 student arrests and charges of trespassing, are calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and a halt in U.S. military aid to Israel. Despite the arrests and threats of suspension, the protests have expanded in recent days, with similar demonstrations breaking out at other college campuses.
Concerns about the safety of Jewish students at Columbia led the university to move classes online starting Monday, just hours before the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover.
There has been a reported uptick in antisemitism in recent months following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, although a huge portion of the protesting students are Jewish. Several protest groups have pushed back against characterizations of their demonstrations as antisemitic.
Kraft, who was raised in an observant Orthodox Jewish family, expressed his hope that The Kraft Center at Columbia can serve as a “source of security and safety” for all Jewish students and faculty on campus.
Robert Kraft (Credits: Business Insider)
The protests began last Wednesday, the same day Columbia president Minouche Shafik testified before the House Education Committee about campus antisemitism. Her testimony and order for arrests have prompted calls from politicians of both parties to rein in the protests and resign from her post.
Kraft’s decision to withhold donations marks a development in the ongoing controversy, as he has been a major supporter of Columbia University in the past. The situation continues to evolve, with protests and counter-protests ongoing and concerns about safety and free speech remaining a pressing issue.
