New Jersey Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer said this week that he'd be "very concerned" about sending his own children to Columbia University amid the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests.
On Tuesday, Gottheimer appeared on CNN's This Morning and spoke about the recent protests at Columbia University and was asked if he'd feel safe sending his own children to the school.
"After what I saw yesterday, I would be very concerned," Gottheimer said. "And I understand why parents are very concerned and frankly we heard what people were screaming out."
Gottheimer explained that one student protester on campus screamed out "never forget October 7, it'll happen not one more time, not happen a thousand more times, but 10,000 more times."
Newsweek reached out to Gottheimer's press office via email for comment.
The Context
In recent days, pro-Palestinian protesters took aim at Israel and Jewish students on Columbia University's campus amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Tensions on university campuses have been high over the past six months as Israel continues its war in Gaza, which began after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7 that left 1,200 people dead and saw over 200 more taken hostage. More than 34,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the war began, the Associated Press reported, citing local health officials.
What We Know
The student-led Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) previously called on the school to divest itself from any companies or brands affiliated with Israel.
"This mass action was organized by the student-led coalition Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), & Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) to protest Columbia University's continued financial investment in corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine," the CUAD said in a statement over the weekend.
Views
On Monday, Gottheimer and other Jewish representatives such as New York's Dan Goldman, Florida's Jared Moskowitz and North Carolina's Kathy Manning walked through Columbia University's campus and issued a statement calling for more action to be taken to protect Jewish students.
"To the administrators at Columbia and beyond, here are our demands: Stop the double talk, and start acting. Discipline harassers. Restore civility on this campus. Encourage peaceful, constructive, civil dialogue. Every student has a right to be safe on campus," Gottheimer said in a statement.
On Monday, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced that classes would be held virtually in an effort to "deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps."
What's Next
Additionally on Sunday, Orthodox Rabbi Elie Buechler sent out a message to more than 290 Jewish students at Columbia University urging them to go home "as soon as possible" amid a rise of "extreme antisemitism and anarchy," ahead of the Passover holiday.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
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