Rep. Elise Stefanik is calling for the removal of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik in response to recent protests on campus.
Early Tuesday, over 100 anti-Israel protesters stormed and barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall, making demands.
“These actions, as well as the illegal encampment and violent riots, go far beyond any right to free speech protected under the First Amendment,” Stefanik said. “This violence is a direct result of the appeasement policies President Minouche Shafik has used to address antisemitism on campus.
Stefanik accused Shafik of failing to enforce consequences and allowing the campus to be ruled by mob, noting a student banned for anti-Semitic comments led the takeover.
She said Shafik bent over to appease radicals, violating Jewish students’ rights and creating an unsafe environment.
“President Shafik has allowed campus to be taken by mob rule, and she must immediately be removed, so this occupation can be met with swift and overwhelming response to retake campus, restore order, and protect Jewish students,” she said.
“Under President Shafik’s failed leadership, the rule of law at Columbia does not exist and consequences have gone without enforcement,” Stefanik wrote. “Just last night, a student who was supposedly banned from campus after calling for the killing of Jews reportedly led the takeover of Hamilton Hall. Had any consequences been enforced against this antisemitic encampment that has been operating for weeks, these events could’ve been prevented.
Stefanik urged trustees to remove Shafik before another building is occupied.
Last week, Stefanik had demanded federal intervention to protect Jewish students from an “unsanctioned mob” targeting them and endorsing terrorism.
“This is a dereliction of duty. President Shafik has bent over backwards to appease antisemitic radicals and agitators who have sown chaos,” she added. “By enabling this to happen, President Shafik is first and foremost violating the rights of Jewish students and faculty, but also creating an environment that is unsafe for all on campus.”
“Consequences are needed for those who are calling for terrorism and violent attacks,” Stefanik wrote.
She called for revoking visas of suspended foreign students supporting terror and cutting federal funding to Columbia.
“By allowing this support for terror to continue, this wicked ideology is able to spread,” Stefanik said. “I demand that you enforce existing law to revoke the visas and deport students here on visas who are suspended for their antisemitic actions.”
