Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik sent a letter to Trustees of Columbia University Co-Chairs David Greenwald and Claire Shipman urging them to act immediately to remove President Minouche Shafik from her position and quickly secure student, faculty, and staff safety after a mob of antisemites overtook a university building.
In the letter, Stefanik states, “After midnight on April 30, 2024, the preventable chaos that has engulfed Columbia University’s campus for weeks escalated to a new level, and Hamilton Hall was stormed, defaced, and taken over by a pro-Hamas mob. [1] These actions, as well as the illegal encampment and violent riots, go far beyond any right to free speech protected under the First Amendment. This pro-Hamas mob held facilities workers hostage, [2] barricaded the building, and issued demands of the university. [3] As of this morning, the building remains occupied. This violence is a direct result of the appeasement policies President Minouche Shafik has used to address antisemitism on campus. President Shafik has allowed campus to be taken by mob rule, and she must immediately be removed so this occupation can be met with swift and overwhelming response to retake campus, restore order, and protect Jewish students.”
Stefanik continues, “This is a dereliction of duty. President Shafik has bent over backwards to appease antisemitic radicals and agitators who have sown chaos. By enabling this to happen, President Shafik is first and foremost violating the rights of Jewish students and faculty, but also creating an environment that is unsafe for all on campus.”
Find the full letter here.
