Emhoff calls Jewish leaders at Columbia University as protests spread to other schools

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff called two Jewish leaders at Columbia University as pro-Palestinian protests spread to campuses across the country, a White House official confirmed.

Emhoff spoke with the director of the Orthodox Union-JLIC at Columbia and Barnard College, Rabbi Elie Buechler, and Brian Cohen, director of Hillel at Columbia, earlier this week, according to the official.

“During the calls, the Second Gentleman recognized that while every American has the right to free speech and to protest peacefully, hate speech and calls for violence against Jews are both anti-Semitic and unacceptable,” said the employee.

Emhoff’s conversations with leaders “focused on the immediate need to address anti-Semitism on college campuses,” the official said, adding that the second gentleman “emphasized that no student should feel unsafe on campus and offered his support on behalf of the Administration”.

His calls to Jewish leaders came as students at the Ivy League institution protested Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which followed Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack. companies.

Columbia is in ongoing negotiations with students about removing the camp, giving them a Friday deadline to disperse.

Meanwhile, the school’s board of directors has shown support for the school’s president, Minouche Shafik, with continued calls for her to resign.

“The Columbia University Board of Trustees strongly supports President Shafik as she leads the university through this extraordinarily challenging time,” the board said in a statement. declaration released on Wednesday. “During the search process for this role, President Shafik told us that she would always take a measured approach to resolving conflicts, balancing the disparate voices that make up a vibrant campus like Columbia, while also taking a firm stance against the hate, harassment and discrimination. ”

Protests spread across the country, with schools canceling graduation ceremonies, changing class schedules and protesters resisting authorities.