Anti-Israel encampment at Columbia University on April 28, 2024. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
"Those who violate the law cannot dictate the terms of the University’s ability to comply with that law. It is past time for the University to act decisively, disband the encampment, and ensure the safety and security of all of its students," the letter says. "The time for negotiation is over; the time for action is now. It is ultimately the responsibility of the Board of Trustees to act. If any Trustees are unwilling to do this, they should resign so that they can be replaced by individuals who will uphold the University’s legal obligations under Title VI."
All members of the House Republican delegation from New York, led by House GOP Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, had already demanded Columbia University President Minouche Shafik's resignation after antisemitic protests continued on campus in the days following her testimony before the House Education and the Workforce Committee. Shafik, on the day after her testimony, allowed police onto campus to arrest more than 100 demonstrators, but later that weekend, the encampment boldly reorganized and remained as Shafik opted to keep police away, outside the university gates.
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Shafik "lied to Congress multiple times about radical pro-terror professor Mohamed Abdou's employment status," Stefanik said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. "Despite her testimony otherwise, Abdou has been rallying at Columbia's antisemitic encampment promoting Jewish hate. This directly contradicts Shafik's testimony which is yet another reason why Shafik must immediately resign."
Monday's letter from Democrats assesses that over the past week, the Columbia encampment "has been the breeding ground for antisemitic attacks on Jewish students, including hate speech, harassment, intimidation, and even threats of violence," citing how a student held up a sign pointing to pro-Israel students that said "Al-Qa[ss]am’s next targets," "referring to the military arm of Hamas, the foreign terrorist organization responsible for the atrocities of October 7, and for holding hostage innocent civilians – including Americans – in brutal captivity for nearly seven months."
Anti-Israel encampment at Columbia University on April 28, 2024. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
She said the university "also offered to make investments in health and education in Gaza, including supporting early childhood development and support for displaced scholars."
Without referencing the possibility of further police action, Shafik again said the university urges those in the encampment "to voluntarily disperse" and is "consulting with a broader group in our community to explore alternative internal options to end this crisis as soon as possible."
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In a statement first obtained by Fox News Digital, Stefanik again torched Shafik for not making a "single condemnation of the vile antisemitism that is rampant in the illegal encampment" and said "there is not a single mention of protecting Jewish students from raging antisemitism at Columbia."
"As these so-called ‘elite’ universities fail on the global stage, it is more important than ever that Congress hold them accountable," Stefanik said.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
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