Anti-Gaza War Protests at US Universities: ‘May Call in the National Guard,’ US House Speaker
Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has visited Columbia University in the United States at a time when protests against the Gaza war are intensifying in universities across the country, including this university. Speaker Mike Johnson said during the visit that the university administration has failed to control the situation.
The Speaker has also demanded the resignation of Columbia University President Nimat Shafiq. Mike Johnson addressed a news conference in Columbia and other House of Representatives members after a brief meeting with Nimat Shafiq on Wednesday afternoon. It should be noted that the pro-Palestine protesters at Columbia University have also demanded the resignation of Nimat Shafiq over the police action.
It should be noted that on Monday night, the police took action against protesting students who pitched tents at New York University (NYU) and detained several people. Currently, the university administration is negotiating with the students regarding the size of these campuses. Students have also been allowed to take online classes and given security.
Dozens of students were previously arrested at Yale, while courses at Columbia University had to be canceled due to protests. It should be noted that the police in Texas and California have arrested dozens while attacking the protesting students.
Addressing his news conference, Mike Johnson said that National Guard troops can also be called to universities to control the tense situation. It should be noted that New York Governor Cathy Hoechl said she has no such plan. The White House, on the other hand, has condemned this trend of alleged ‘anti-Semitic’ incidents.
The White House pointed to protests on university campuses against the Gaza war. On October 7, Hamas attacked Israel, in response to which Israel’s air and ground war continues in Gaza. Since then, there have been intense debates and protests on American campuses over the Gaza war and freedom of expression.
The Speaker of the House rejected suggestions that the protest was legally protected by freedom of expression. He said the Columbia University administration did nothing to restore peace on campus and failed to protect Jewish students from this trend of ‘anti-Semitic’ incidents on campus. We stand with Palestine, and we want freedom for these people,” said a student who participated in the protest.
Meanwhile, waving an Israeli flag on the roadside, a man said, ‘One side of history is here, and the other is there. The right side is here.’New York University has said that 50 people were involved in setting up protest tents outside its business school. They said these protests were not allowed as they disrupted the educational process and classes.
The police started arresting these students on Monday night, but it is not yet known how many students have been arrested. A few hours later, around 50 protesters were detained at Yale University. Authorities say hundreds of people had gathered and refused to retreat and disperse. On Monday, Columbia University President Dr. Nimat Shafiq directed students to stay away from the campus, citing incidents of “hateful behavior.”
The institute also organized virtual classes for the students. The university has criticized its security staff for failing to deal with the protests. In a statement sent to the BBC on Monday evening, Columbia’s Knight First Amendment Institute called for “better policies to deal with protests.” It said help from outside authorities should only be sought when people or property are threatened. Be in danger.
About 1,200 Israelis and foreigners (mostly civilians) were killed in the attack on southern Israel on October 7, and 253 others were taken hostage and taken back to Gaza. Israel responded by launching its worst-ever war in Gaza. It aimed to destroy Hamas and free the hostages. More than 34,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry of the Hamas-ruled territory. According to a Gallup poll, opinion in the US has changed since the recent war, and most citizens no longer support Israeli actions in Gaza.
