Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Republican lawmakers faced repeated and loud heckling during a press conference at Columbia University on Wednesday. They had gathered to condemn antisemitism and pro-Palestine demonstrations happening on campus.
Johnson, with GOP Reps. Virginia Foxx (N.C.), Mike Lawler (N.Y.), Anthony D’Esposito (N.Y.), and Nicole Malliotakis (N.Y.), went to the Manhattan campus. Pro-Palestine protesters are refusing to leave until the school agrees to divest from Israel and related companies involved in its war effort against Hamas.
The GOP lawmakers encountered shouting and were frequently drowned out by protesters as they denounced the treatment of Jewish students on campus and addressed student demonstrators directly.
Johnson stated, “The cherished traditions of this university are being overtaken by radical and extreme ideologies. They place a target on the backs of Jewish students. A growing number of students have chanted in support of terrorists, chased down Jewish students, mocked them, reviled them, and shouted racial epithets. As Johnson spoke, chants of “we can’t hear you” broke out in the crowd.
As Johnson spoke, chants of “we can’t hear you” broke out in the crowd.
“Enjoy your free speech,” Johnson responded.
D’Esposito told students, “If you are a protester on this campus, and you are proud that you’ve been endorsed by Hamas, you are part of the problem.” Lawler said “the fastest way for a cease-fire to occur is for Hamas to surrender and to release the hostages. Both remarks were met with shouts from the crowd.
Both remarks were met with shouts from the crowd.
When the Speaker said “anti-Israel encampments are popping up at universities all across this country,” the crowd also let out a loud cacophony of shouts and boos.
At one point, shouts of “Mike you suck” and “get the f‑‑‑ out of here” were heard as Johnson spoke.
Johnson was the latest House lawmaker to travel to Columbia’s campus this week as both protests against Israel’s war in Gaza and accusations of antisemitism grow.
Earlier this week, the university announced that it would shift to hybrid learning for the remainder of the semester as the protests continued.
The switch came after an Orthodox rabbi at Columbia University and Barnard College told Jewish students to “return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved,” according to a WhatsApp message posted on the social platform X by CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Johnson on Wednesday joined his New York GOP colleagues in calling on Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign from her post, a request that was met with loud boos from the crowd.
“I am here today joining my colleagues in calling on President Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos,” he said. “As Speaker of the House, I am committing today that the Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are expected to run for their lives and stay home from their classes hiding in fear.”
