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NY Reps. Lawler, D’Esposito rip Columbia protesters for supporting Hamas: ‘Absolute abomination’

ny-reps.-lawler,-d’esposito-rip-columbia-protesters-for-supporting-hamas:-‘absolute-abomination’
NY Reps. Lawler, D’Esposito rip Columbia protesters for supporting Hamas: ‘Absolute abomination’

New York GOP Reps. Mike Lawler and Anthony D’Esposito tore into protesters at Columbia University Wednesday over their support for Hamas terrorists, calling them an “absolute abomination.”

“If you are a protester on this campus, and you are proud that you’ve been endorsed by Hamas, you are part of the problem,” D’Esposito, of Long Island, said during a press conference alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republican lawmakers on the steps of the Low Library.

“When you cheer on the fact that you enjoy Hamas and Hezbollah, you are yourself part of the problem,” D’Esposito added. “We see on this campus the hate-filled speech that is carrying through this country.”

“I want Palestinians to be free too, from their oppressor: Hamas,” declared Lawler, of Rockland County. “Every single one of you students that support Hamas are an absolute abomination.”

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson addresses press and students outside the Columbia University Library on Wednesday.

“If you are a protester on this campus, and you are proud that you’ve been endorsed by Hamas, you are part of the problem,” D’Esposito said alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson. LP Media

“It is shameful — shameful — that you’d support a terrorist organization that butchered and beheaded and burned innocent women, children and babies,” he added, calling down to a crowd of roughly 50 protesters who jeered at the Republicans through their remarks.

“If you want a cease-fire, the fastest way for a cease-fire to occur is for Hamas to surrender and to release the hostages — and if you can’t call for that, you are a pathetic embarrassment to this institution and to students everywhere,” Lawler exclaimed.

D’Esposito, Johnson, Lawler and other House Republicans demanded that Columbia President Minouche Shafik immediately resign after meeting with her as well as Jewish students and a campus rabbi.

United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson speaks near a pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in New York, N.Y.

The crowd of roughly 50 protesters at Columbia University jeered at the Republicans through the remarks. James Keivom

“After listening to her comments inside, it is clear that she has no intention of getting this university under control and ensuring the safety and well-being of every student,” Lawler said. “If the students are not safe, if the institution will not act, Congress has a responsibility to do so — and we will.”

“We just met with a group of students who told us that not only have they been bullied, but they’ve been, many of them, assaulted. They have been spat on. They have had to walk the halls of this campus to see swastikas painted,” added Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.

“These are clear examples of antisemitism and it’s shocking to see that it’s happening in the most diverse and welcoming city in America. It is truly outrageous.”

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson addresses press and students outside the Columbia University Library on Wednesday.

Johnson told reporters that if the “threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard” — and he would immediately call on President Biden to consider that executive action. LP Media

Johnson told reporters that if the “threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard” — and he would immediately call on President Biden to consider that action.

“We just can’t allow this kind of hatred and antisemitism to flourish on our campuses,” he said. “I am here today joining my colleagues and calling on President Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos.”

“The House has been investigating a number of these campuses — there is a nexus to federal funding,” Johnson added. “If these campuses cannot get control of this problem, they do not deserve taxpayer dollars. That’s a very serious issue.”

More than 200 protesters descended again on the Morningside Heights campus just days after NYPD officers cleared away their tent encampment. James Keivom

More than 200 protesters descended again on the Morningside Heights campus, just days after NYPD officers cleared away their initial tent encampment.

Since then, students and faculty have faced harassment — with at least one Israel-born professor being barred from campus, ostensibly for his own safety — and have been urged to remain at home and attend classes remotely.

The demonstrators at the self-described “People’s University for Palestine” have called for Columbia to divest from Israel following their president’s testimony before Congress.

People gather at a food and supply tent at a pro-Palestinian encampment on the lawn of Columbia University on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in New York, N.Y.

The demonstrators at the self-described “People’s University for Palestine” have called for Columbia to divest from Israel following their president’s testimony before Congress. NYPJ

They have also called for the eradication of Israel and harassed Jewish students — with one widely circulated image showing a young protestor holding up a sign that declared Israeli flag-waving Columbia undergrads to be Hamas’ “next target.”

“As Speaker of the House, I am committing today that the Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are expected to run for their lives and stay home from their classes hiding in fear and the House of Representatives,” Johnson announced.

“My message to the students inside the encampment is go back to class and stop the nonsense,” he said when asked by reporters. “If we want to have a debate on campus about the merits of these things, let’s do that. But you can’t intimidate your fellow students and make them stay home from class.”

People gather as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson speaks near a pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in New York, N.Y

“My message to the students inside the encampment is go back to class and stop the nonsense,” Johnson said when asked by reporters. James Keivom

“Stop wasting your parents’ money,” he added, referencing the nearly $90,000 annual tuition of Columbia students.

House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx, whose panel is probing Columbia and other schools over their failure to quell antisemitism, revealed that Shafik had misled Congress during her testimony April 17.

“President Shafik presented false testimony to the committee regarding the removal of Professor Joseph Massad. No action was taken,” Foxx (R-NC) said. “In addition, the administration has suspended two Jewish students for a made-up chemical attack.”

“The inmates are running the asylum,” she said when asked for her message to Shafik and Columbia administrators. “Take back control of this once-great institution.”

The demonstrators booed loudly at the Republicans as they spoke, erupting into chants of “We can’t hear” and “free, free Palestine” — at one point even screaming “Mike, you suck!” at Johnson.

“Enjoy your freedom of speech,” the House speaker responded good-naturedly.

“Welcome to New York City,” Malliotakis joked to the speaker at one point, prompting him to reply gamely, “Yes, indeed.”

“Columbia’s administrators have chosen to let the threats, the fear and the intimidation of the mob rule to overtake American principles like free speech and the free exchange of ideas and the free exercise of religion,” Johnson told reporters when asked about concerns that protesters’ First Amendment rights were under threat.

“They have co-opted First Amendment arguments to protect genocide and to elevate the voices of antisemitism. They have proven themselves to be incapable of achieving their basic responsibility, which is keeping students safe.”

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