the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY, Antisemitism has soared both nationally and globally since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, with U.S. colleges in particular taking heat for their handling of the situation.
New England Patriots team owner Robert Kraft made it his mission to “stand up to Jewish hate” in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel and on Monday he went a step further.
Kraft announced he was pulling his support for Columbia University amid the antisemitic violence at the Ivy League school. He released a statement through his philanthropic organization, Foundation to Combat Antisemitism.
“It was through the full academic scholarship Columbia gave me that I was able to attend college and get my start in life and for that I have been tremendously grateful,” Kraft’s statement read. “However, the school I love so much – the one that welcomed me and provided me with so much opportunity – is no longer an institution I recognize.
“I am deeply saddened at the virulent hate that continues to grow on campus and throughout our country. I am no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff and I am not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken.
“It is my hope that Columbia and its leadership will stand up to this hate by ending these protests immediately and will work to earn back the respect and trust of many of us who have lost faith in the institution. It is my hope that in this difficult time, the Kraft Center at Columbia will serve as a source of security and safety for all Jewish students and faculty on campus who want to gather peacefully to practice their religions, to be together and to be welcomed.”
Kraft’s foundation has been at the forefront of the fight against antisemitism – amplified further by the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel. The organization also had an ad during the Super Bowl.
Students at Columbia University were told in an overnight statement that all classes will be held virtually on Monday as anti-Israel protesters have taken over the campus, its president announced.
Columbia University President Dr. Nemat “Minouche” Shafik said in a statement, posted in the early hours Monday morning, that she was “deeply saddened” by certain actions of agitators, who have formed an “encampment” on the campus and have riled students and faculty with anti-Jewish slogans and chants.
“I am deeply saddened by what is happening on our campus,” Shafik wrote. “Our bonds as a community have been severely tested in ways that will take a great deal of time and effort to reaffirm. Students across an array of communities have conveyed fears for their safety and we have announced additional actions we are taking to address security concerns. The decibel of our disagreements has only increased in recent days. These tensions have been exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia who have come to campus to pursue their own agendas.”
On Thursday, the New York Police Department (NYPD) began arresting students at the encampment after the school told the participants multiple times they were not allowed in that particular area.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who campaigned for weeks for UPenn and Harvard’s president to resign, is now focusing her sights on Shafik.
“The situation unfolding on campus right now is a direct product of your policies and misguided decisions,” said a letter led by Stefanik and signed by all 10 New York House Republican members. “Based on these recent events and your testimony in front of Congress, we have no confidence in your leadership of this once esteemed institution.”
“The ongoing situation that has unfolded is a direct symptom of your continued lax enforcement of policy and clear double standards,” it continued. “While the rot is systemic, the responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders. It is time for Columbia University to turn the page on this shameful chapter. This can only be done through the restoration of order and your prompt resignation.”
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Well, that’s good. These universities have no balls. The shit that’s going on on their property should not exist. You have your right to freedom of speech. But you don’t have the right to camp out on someone else’s property do all these shitheads have a permit, probably not, where they getting the tents, the megaphones, who’s making the signs someone is organizing these jerk offs. You could stand out in the street and voice your opinion what happens if these thousands of people one on vets field and camped out what would happen. They would be removed , that’s what would happen. We don’t care what group you’re Involved with. You need to follow the laws you can’t just camp out make fires throw debris at police no respect they should call in the Guard and clean this shit up. This is all political stunt. Just like the BLM movement, political, all lives matter stop the bullshit.
Love it…watch Columbia get their act together now.
Thank you Mr Kraft
There was a time when you would shiver in your boots when you were confronted by an NYPD officer. Now these jerks throw chairs and them and the cops seem so feckless. These “insurrections” need to be crushed by force. You break a law you face the music. Not holding my breath. NYC voters love this garbage, they can enjoy it she sh!t they’re in.
By the way, I will never forgive Trump for standing by when BLM burned America during the summer of 2020. Weak. Will still vote for him for lack of an alternative.
Well, you’ll forgive him enough to vote for him again. It’s a peculiar thing about Americans; they never fail to defend their betrayers. It happens over and over again. “What choice do I have?” Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, fool me harder daddy?
I think everyone has a right to protest but their rights end where my discomfort begins.
Yeah, these protesters are out of control, this is more than voicing your opinion. This is turning out to be threatening, harassing, invading peoples privacy, disrespecting law offices, littering, destruction of a property, and I’m sure we can find a few more. they come on my property. There’s gonna be a big problem.