New York City Mayor Eric Adams condemned the antisemitism at and around the Columbia University campus and cautioned that the NYPD would take action to arrest anti-Israel protestors at Columbia University if needed.
Over the past week, activists and protestors have gathered at the university in what they call a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” demanding an end to the war in Gaza, chanting pro-Hamas slogans, cheering deaths of Israeli soldiers, burning flags, and engaging in other actions that have drawn criticism from the university and the city government, including the Mayor.
Republicans and Democrats in Congress have also issued statements denouncing the protestors as “anti-Semitic” due to controversial chants praising Hamas and demanding Tel Aviv be burned down.
Adams expressed horror and disgust at the antisemitism at and around the Columbia University campus, citing examples such as a young woman holding a sign with an arrow pointing to Jewish students stating ‘Al-Qasam’s Next Targets,’ or another where a woman is literally yelling ‘We are Hamas,’ or groups of students chanting ‘We don’t want no Zionists here’ — and condemned this hate speech strongly.
The mayor went on to note that law enforcement would respond to the request from the university to have protestors removed, posting his remarks both in a thread on X and in full on his website.
I am horrified and disgusted with the antisemitism being spewed at and around the Columbia University campus. Hate has no place in our city, and I have instructed the NYPD to investigate any violation of law they receive a report about and will arrest anyone found to be breaking…
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 21, 2024
We will not be a city of lawlessness, and those professional agitators seeking to seize the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to sow chaos and division will not succeed.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 21, 2024
I do, however, want to be abundantly clear: Columbia University is a private institution on private property, which means the NYPD cannot have a presence on campus unless specifically requested by senior university officials.
For the safety of all New Yorkers, I urge Columbia’s…
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 21, 2024
The NYPD has an increased presence of officers situated around the campus to protect students and all New Yorkers on public streets, and they stand ready to respond if a request is made by the university, like was done this past Thursday.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 21, 2024
I know the conflict in the Middle East has left many of us grieving and angry. New Yorkers have every right to express their sorrow, but that heartbreak does not give anyone the right to harass or threaten others or to physically harm someone they disagree with.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 21, 2024
As mayor of the city with the largest Jewish community in the world outside of Israel, the pain these protests are causing Jews across the globe is not lost on me, especially as we start Passover tomorrow evening. I also see and hear the pain of those protesting in support of…
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 21, 2024
In this moment of heightened tension around the world, we must stand united against hate.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 21, 2024
Supporting a terrorist organization that aims to kill Jews is sickening and despicable. As I have repeatedly said, hate has no place in our city, and I have instructed the NYPD to investigate any violation of law that is reported. Rest assured, the NYPD will not hesitate to arrest anyone who is found to be breaking the law.
I do, however, want to be abundantly clear: Columbia University is a private institution on private property, which means the NYPD cannot have a presence on campus unless specifically requested by senior university officials. The NYPD has an increased presence of officers situated around the campus to protect students and all New Yorkers on nearby public streets, and they stand ready to respond if another request is made by the university, as they did on Thursday, when the NYPD successfully cleared encampments on Columbia’s South Lawn without any injuries
