Columbia College protest: Joe Biden calls ‘anti-semitism’ in US schools ‘reprehensible and harmful’
US President Joe Biden, for the primary time, spoke out towards anti-semitism on faculty campuses amidst ongoing tensions surrounding scholar protests. At Columbia College, the place pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been protesting for 5 days, calls for are being made to sever monetary ties with Israel, a key US ally.
The protesters, tenting out on campus, are urging the college to boycott all actions related to Israel as a result of battle with Hamas and the ensuing humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
White Home assertion on anti-Israel protest in US campuses
“Even in latest days, we have seen harassment and requires violence towards Jews. This blatant anti-Semitism is reprehensible and harmful — and it has completely no place on faculty campuses, or wherever in our nation,” Biden mentioned in a press release forward of the Jewish vacation of Passover, which begins Monday night time.
Rising episodes of anti-Semitism in US campuses
The cultural debate within the US has intensified for the reason that October 7 Hamas assault and Israel’s response in Gaza, with many college students’ pro-Palestinian stances being accused of anti-Semitism. A number of universities together with Harvard, College of Pennsylvania and
Issues over security led a rabbi related to an Orthodox Jewish scholar group at Columbia to advise Jewish college students to go house. Nevertheless, one other Jewish group, Hillel, urged college students to remain on campus whereas calling for elevated security measures.
Situations of anti-Semitism had been reported throughout a pro-Israel counterprotest on the campus landmark, the Sundial, and tensions peaked when 108 protesters had been arrested on Thursday, prompting condemnation from New York Mayor Eric Adams.
The scenario at Columbia comes amidst wider scrutiny of faculty campuses for problems with anti-Semitism, with Harvard’s president not too long ago resigning after issues had been raised in regards to the subject there as nicely.
