Democrats call on Columbia council to end protest camp or resign

A group of House Democrats is urging Columbia University’s board of trustees to end the ongoing protest camp on campus or resign from their positions.

Representatives Josh Gottheimer (DN.J.) and Dan Goldman (DN.Y.) led the group of 21 colleagues in sending a letter to the board demanding that school officials put an end to the camp, which has drawn national attention for more than a week.

“We, the undersigned, write to express our disappointment that, despite promises to that effect, Columbia University has not yet disbanded the unauthorized and impermissible camp of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish activists on campus,” they wrote. Democratic lawmakers.

“As a result of this disruption on campus, supported by some faculty members, many students were prevented from safely attending classes in the main library and leaving their dormitories in an apparent violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.” , they added.

Axes first reported in the letter.

Columbia gained national attention earlier this month after pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment on campus. School officials later asked the New York Police Department (NYPD) to respond to the demonstration, prompting arrests.

Now, students across the country have set up pro-Palestine camps on their university campuses, with many protesters calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas and others demanding that their schools be removed from Israel.

The protests were mostly reported as peaceful, but concerns were raised about anti-Semitic rhetoric during the demonstrations and the safety of students on campus. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik has faced calls to resign amid the protests.

The lawmakers said in Monday’s letter that while they appreciate the Columbia administration’s efforts to negotiate a settlement with the protesters, it is now “absolutely clear” that the students involved are “unwilling to enter into a reasonable agreement to dissolve.” .

“Those who violate the law cannot dictate the terms of the University’s ability to comply with that law. It is past time for the University to act decisively, dismantle the camp and ensure the safety of all its students,” the lawmakers wrote.

“The time for negotiation is over; the time to act is now. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees to act. If any trustee is unwilling to do so, he or she must resign so that he or she can be replaced by individuals who meet the University’s legal obligations under Title VI,” the lawmakers wrote in the conclusion.

Columbia declined to comment on the letter when contacted by The Hill.