In the wake of pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the country, Republican Senator Josh Hawley is demanding President Joe Biden take action to protect Jewish students.
Hawley, a vocal critic of the Biden administration, sent a scathing letter to the President, urging him to mobilize the National Guard to ensure the safety of Jewish Americans.
The call for action comes after Columbia University, one of America’s most prestigious institutions, was forced to suspend in-person classes due to “extreme antisemitism” on campus. Reports of harassment and calls for violence against Jewish students have raised concerns within the community and led to campus-wide disruption.
“On college campuses across the United States, Jewish Americans are at risk,” Hawley said, adding that “most alarmingly, in-person classes at Columbia University have been cancelled” right as the Jewish holiday of Passover was set to begin.
“Now, you must take action to match those words,” Hawley continued, “You must immediately mobilize the National Guard and any other authorities necessary to ensure the safety of Jewish American students and citizens.”
While Biden has released a statement condemning the hate and violence against Jews, Hawley is not satisfied with mere words. In his letter, he demands the President match his words with action.
The Senator went on to accuse Biden of being “scared” to crack down on protests, as he fears it will anger his base. And it’s no secret that anti-Israel sentiment has become a key issue for the far left. From “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” (BDS) movements to repeated calls for Israel’s destruction, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party has aligned itself with pro-Palestinian groups.
Even within his own party, Biden is facing mounting pressure to take a stronger stance against the violence and hatred being directed toward Jewish students. Chairwoman of the Education and Workforce Committee, Rep. Virginia Foxx, has called for the expulsion of any students and faculty members found to be harassing Jewish students.
The Republican delegation from New York, led by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, has demanded the resignation of Columbia’s President over a lack of confidence in her leadership.
Not all hope is lost, however. Some Democrats, like Rep. Jared Moskowitz, have expressed their support for Jewish students and have called on the university presidents to take a stand. Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat, showed up on Columbia’s campus with members of his caucus to support Jewish students and pressure President Shafik to take action.
I should be with my family today for Passover. Instead, I’m here at @Columbia University standing with Jewish students who are being harassed on their campus.
To the Columbia President, DO NOT make the same choice as the Presidents of UPenn and Harvard. Protect your students. pic.twitter.com/rJjtXEAkiZ
— Congressman Jared Moskowitz (@RepMoskowitz) April 22, 2024
During this chaos, it’s clear that Biden’s failure to address the growing anti-Jewish sentiment on college campuses is causing division within his own party. Will he finally heed the calls for action and stand up for the safety of Jewish students? Or will he continue to cater to the far-left, putting political expediency over the safety and well-being of American citizens?
Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: Senator Hawley and others are not backing down until Biden takes decisive action to protect Jewish students from the rising tide of antisemitism on college campuses.
