Massachusetts Lawmaker Calls For Stronger Measures Against Anti-Israel Demonstrations On Campuses
DEBARYLIFE – Columbia University issued suspension threats to students who failed to vacate their encampments on Monday.
Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, demanded that college administrators put an end to anti-Israel demonstrations on campus, claiming that they had gone too far and endangered the security of Jewish students.
The Democrat told NBC10 Boston that since the protests were interfering with classrooms and made a lot of Jewish kids feel uncomfortable, school administrators had a “responsibility” to put an end to them.
“Freedom of speech is valued in our nation,” Moulton said to the local publication. “However, the security of Jewish students has frequently been jeopardized by these rallies.
They’ve interfered with university operations, making it impossible for any other child to attend classes. Therefore, I would contend that the universities have an obligation in this instance as well as a right to close them.”
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Speaking of his former school, “I was thrilled to just see Harvard turn on the sprinklers the other day,” he continued.
Moulton maintained that safeguarding the First Amendment rights of demonstrators and ensuring the security of Jewish students ought to coexist in harmony.
While acknowledging that demonstrators “threatening other students” is an issue, he also stated that colleges “have a right to take action.”
Moulton is one of several Democrats who have started to put pressure on colleges to put an end to the unruly demonstrations.
In a letter sent on Monday, almost two dozen House Democrats urged the Columbia University administration to dissolve “the unauthorized and impermissible encampment of anti-Israel, anti-Jewish activists on campus.”
Later that morning, Columbia issued a threat that if students didn’t remove their things from the encampments by the afternoon, they would be suspended or face severe disciplinary action.
“You won’t be allowed to sign and finish the semester in good standing if you don’t identify yourself when you leave and sign the form now. It said, “You will be suspended awaiting additional inquiry if you do not depart by 2:00 p.m.
On Friday, however, a few progressive members of Congress came to Columbia to show solidarity with demonstrators against Israel.