If the Gaza ceasefire protests at Columbia University don’t end on their own, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., says we should call in the National Guard soon.
Johnson and many House Republicans paid a visit to the New York City Ivy League institution on Wednesday as emotions rose following rallies in which several Jewish students openly expressed their worry for their safety. Students at Columbia University and its sister school, Barnard College, have set up a tent city on campus to protest Columbia’s involvement in Israeli corporations.
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Tensions over the topic nearly boiled over multiple times during Johnson’s speech, as pro-ceasefire student activists continuously heckled and attempted to disrupt the Louisiana Republican with coordinated cries such as “We can’t hear you” and “Mike, you s—.”
“Enjoy your free speech,” Johnson said to the demonstrators at one point early on.
Later, when asked if he would push President Biden to send the National Guard to the campus, Johnson said he would speak with the president immediately and did not rule out sending federal forces.
“My plan is to call President Biden when we leave here and tell him what we have witnessed with our own two eyes, demanding that he take action. Johnson stated that the National Guard should step in if the situation doesn’t resolve quickly and the threats and intimidation persist.
“We need to bring order to these campuses. We cannot allow this to happen across the country. We’re better than this.
Johnson referred to the demonstrators as a “mob” and specifically condemned academics and other faculty members who had joined the protests.
He also reaffirmed his earlier call on Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, whom he met with before the press conference, to quit.
“I’m here today with my colleagues to call on President Shafik to resign if she can’t immediately bring order to this chaos,” Johnson said, drawing more jeers. As Speaker of the House, I pledged today that the Congress will not remain silent, given the expectation that Jewish students will flee for their lives and remain at home, hiding in fear.
As students continued to chant in the crowd, he addressed the demonstrators directly, labeling their actions un-American and accusing them of censorship.
“The college campus used to be a place for respectful debate, where people could discuss differences of opinion in a free marketplace of ideas.” “That is not what is happening here,” Johnson stated. “You are intimidating and shouting down people you disagree with.”
The jeers became louder as Johnson said, “You cannot censor and silence opposing viewpoints.” That is not American, but you do not comprehend what it means to uphold the First Amendment.”
“My message to the students inside the encampment is to go back to class and stop the nonsense,” he went on to say. “Let’s have a debate on campus about the merits of their respective items. However, you can’t frighten your classmates and force them to stay home from class. Think about it. Is that correct? Do you believe that’s correct?
