Embattled House Speaker Mike Johnson was the latest high-profile elected official to visit Columbia University a week after students began a campaign known as the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on the West Lawn. After a brief meeting with Columbia President Minouche Shafik, Johnson stood before a horde of reporters, students, and faculty on the steps of Low Memorial Library to denounce reports of antisemitism on campus and call for Shafik’s resignation.
“It is truly outrageous and it’s clear that the president of this university cannot control the campus,” Johnson said.
Met with a crowd of boos, he criticized university officials for failing to support Jewish students, and accused them of allowing hate speech and violence to go unchecked. He was accompanied by a host of Republican House colleagues including Virginia Foxx, Nicole Malliotakis, Mike Lawler and Anthony D’Esposito.
House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke before a horde of reporters and students on the steps of the Low Library at Columbia University. (Credit: Francesca Maria Lorenzini)
During his meeting with Shafik, Johnson met a handful of Jewish students who shared reports of feeling unsafe on campus due to the ongoing encampment. He said students “have paid a lot of money and worked very hard to get into an Ivy League institution like this,” and they deserve better protection from the administration.
Asked if he thinks the National Guard should step in to deescalate the situation, Johnson said he planned to call President Joe Biden and discuss the matter further. “We have to bring order to these campuses,” he said.
“To every Jewish student listening to us, no matter where you are around the country,” he said, “the U.S. House of Representatives will do everything in our power to ensure that you are safe.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks on the steps of Low Library (Credit: Ashley Miller)
Earlier in the afternoon, student representatives at the encampment said negotiations with university officials had soured. They claimed the administration had signaled intentions to send in the National Guard to clear the camp.
“In threatening us, the university is negotiating in bad faith,” Khymani James said, despite no official statement on the topic.
In an early Wednesday email, officials said conversations with protesters would continue for two additional days and that some progress had been made. According to the email, students had committed to reducing the number of tents on the West Lawn, prohibiting discriminatory or harassing language and expelling non-Columbia affiliates from the camp.
Student organizers said that it is the university’s responsibility to monitor who enters and leaves the campus. “It’s mostly students, we do have guests from the outside, like politicians, and we do have people who come see it and leave,” said Sherif Ibrahim, one of the speakers at the press conference.
Last Thursday, Shafik asked the NYPD to clear the initial camp, an operation that resulted in more than 100 arrests. The encampment was up again the following day. Protestors are demanding full amnesty for those arrested and suspended, and that the university divests from any interests related to Israel.
About the author(s)
Ashley Miller is a journalist and a Master of Science student at the Columbia Journalism School.
John is a journalist covering climate for City Newsroom. John is a native of Baconton, Georgia and a graduate of Florida A&M University.
Francesca is an Italian reporter covering politics for City Newsroom. She has reported in print, web, audio and video. Francesca speaks three languages.
Genevieve is from Brooklyn, NY and covers Arts and Culture for City Newsroom. Genevieve is interested in stories that focus on the intersection of art and technology.
Vincent Jiang is a journalist and M.S. student at the Columbia School of Journalism.
Urvi is from India and covers housing in New York City for City Newsroom. She has worked as a business reporter covering markets, ESG, leadership, and enjoys long runs.
Davaughnia is an Arts and Culture reporter for City Newsroom in New York City. She has experience in news, feature and magazine writing, as well as audio and video journalism.