Speaker Johnson Backs Jewish Students During Columbia Visit

(ConservativeSense.com) – House Speaker Mike Johnson commented on the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and defended Jewish students during his recent visit to the New York campus.

On Wednesday, April 24, Johnson paid a visit to Columbia University and spoke outside of the Arthur W. Diamond Law Library. He noted the building behind him once honored British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who supported Jewish people having their own state “where they may be reunited.” Johnson said the US believes “in that principle,” and proclaimed that he stands with Israel and the Jewish students at Columbia, where ongoing pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place.

Throughout his speech, critics of the Speaker booed and heckled, but Johnson told the audience that he would share with President Joe Biden what he had seen during his visit and “demand” that the president “take action.”

Johnson was referring to reports of antisemitic incidents at the university throughout the protests, noting that Biden could take certain executive actions. He also warned that if the situation “is not contained quickly” and the “threats and intimidation” don’t stop, there may be “an appropriate time” to deploy the National Guard “to ring order” to university campuses.

Johnson reiterated his call to Columbia President Minouche Shafik to step down if she can’t get the situation under control. He also said that the radical Islamic group Hamas has endorsed the protesters, claiming they called the demonstrators “future leaders of America.” The House Speaker called the characterization “detestable” and accused the protesters of supporting terrorists and harassing Jewish students, who he called brave and “inspiring” for standing up to the hatred. He said that students whom he met with told him about “heinous acts of bigotry” against them for their Jewish faith.

Joining the House Speaker at the event were New York Republican Reps. Michael Lawler, Anthony D’Esposito, and Nicole Malliotakis, as well as Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, the House Education and Workforce Committee chair.