Johnson calls for Columbia University President's resignation

While the unrest continues in US universities, House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia University on Wednesday to meet with Jewish students and during a news conference he asked for the resignation of President Minouche Shafik.

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Amid the ongoing pro-Palestinian protest in the US, House Speaker Mike Johnson has called for the resignation of Columbia University’s President Minouche Shafik. He visited Columbia University, Centre of the pro-Palestine protest, to meet Jewish students and delivered remarks with other Republican lawmakers.

“We just can’t allow this kind of hatred and antisemitism to flourish on our campuses, and it must be stopped in its tracks. Those who are perpetrating this violence should be arrested. I am here today joining my colleagues, and calling on President Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos,” Johnson said while talking in a news conference before visiting the school, as reported by CNN.com.

“This President Shafik has shown to be a very weak, inept leader. They cannot even guarantee the safety of Jewish students. They are expected to run for their lives and stay home from class. It’s maddening,” he added, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Protestors are demanding a complete divestment of university from Israel's companies and Jewish students are saying they do not feel safe on the campus. 

While other Republican lawmakers from New York have also called for her resignation, the university spokesperson said, according to The Hill, “President Shafik is focused on deescalating the rancor on Columbia’s campus. She is working across campus with members of the faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees, and with state, city and community leaders, and appreciates their support.”

University of Texas Warns Students Amid pro-Palestine protests

The protests are happening across many schools in the US, now University of Texas at Austin sent an email to students alerting them of a 'Notice of Dispersal Order'. NYPD arrested over a dozen people in the university including a news photographer. Hundreds of local and state police pushed and shoved the protestors to disperse the demonstrators. They arrested around 20 demonstrators at the request of university officials. The Jewish students have claimed that the protestors have turned antisemitic in the university.

At Harvard University also, the protestors have escalated their campus protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Read more:

• Columbia University students demand refund of tuition fee; Gaza Protests Intensify
• Columbia University President issues midnight deadline to clear campus encampment