Speaker Johnson Visits Columbia Amid Protests, Calls on President to Resign
Summary from the AllSides News Team
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) visited Columbia University on Wednesday as the campus continues to grapple with unrest and protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
For Context: Pro-Palestine student protesters at Columbia have set up an encampment on the campus grounds. Last week, New York police arrested over 100 protesting students as Columbia President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik testified before a House committee.
Details: Earlier on Wednesday, Johnson called on Columbia President Shafik to resign, calling her a “very weak, inept leader.” Johnson met with a group of Jewish students, then addressed reporters and protesters, where he was greeted with boos and jeers from the protesters.
Key Quotes: Speaking to the media, Johnson stated, “Today Hamas issued an endorsement statement of the protesters on this campus. They called them the future leaders of America. It is detestable. All of this has to be said because the cherished traditions of this university are being overtaken right now by radical and extreme ideologies. They place a target on the backs of Jewish students in the United States and here on this campus. A growing number of students have chanted in support of terrorists, they have chased down Jewish students, they have mocked them and reviled them, they have shouted racial epithets, they have screamed at those who bear the star of David.”
How the Media Covered It: The Daily Caller (Right bias) framed Johnson as defiant in the face of the heckling protesters, reporting that the protesters were “unable to shut him down.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
House Speaker Mike Johnson calls for Columbia president's ousting, echoing a familiar and effective threatHouse Speaker Mike Johnson wants Columbia University's president to resign, calling her "inept" and "weak."
Johnson, who is visiting Columbia on Wednesday, has railed against Nemat "Minouche" Shafik's handling of pro-Palestinian student protests and antisemitism on campus following Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel and Israel's subsequent war in Gaza.
Upon his arrival to campus Wednesday evening, Johnson was greeted by a crowd that booed and heckled him, while a few cheered, according to an Axios reporter who posted a video to X.
From the Center
Mike Johnson Booed by Columbia Pro-Palestinian ProtestersU.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was greeted with boos during a visit to the New York City campus of Columbia University as a controversial pro-Palestinian protest continued on Wednesday.
Over 100 Columbia students taking part in the week-long protest have been arrested by riot police and suspended by the university, while repeated reports of antisemitic incidents have sparked condemnation from school officials, lawmakers and student protesters who say outside groups are responsible.
Shortly after meeting with a group of Jewish students on Wednesday afternoon, Johnson held a press...
From the Right
‘Mike, You Suck!’: Mike Johnson Fires Back At Rowdy Pro-Palestinian Protesters During University SpeechRepublican Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana clapped back at pro-Palestinian protesters during a Wednesday speech at Columbia University.
Columbia University President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik ordered classes to move online on Monday after an unauthorized pro-Palestinian encampment took place on campus recently, with New York Police Department (NYPD) officers arresting over 100 protesters on Thursday. Johnson noted that Columbia has been overtaken by “radical and extreme ideologies” and that Hamas has endorsed the pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
There were protesters screaming and chanting during Johnson’s speech where he called on Shafik to resign...
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