Hear House Speaker respond to Jewish student’s statement about Israel and Gaza
Summary
TLDRPro-Palestinian protests across the United States have led to violent clashes, particularly at USC and U.T. Austin, resulting in over 20 arrests. At NYU, Brown, and Columbia University, an encampment has occupied campus, leading to over 100 arrests and the cancellation of in-person classes. Speaker Mike Johnson faced a hostile reception at Columbia, where he called for the resignation of the university president, citing threats and intimidation against Jewish students. Johnson condemned the endorsement of the protests by Hamas and the denial of past atrocities, emphasizing the need for Congress to address the issue and support Israel, a stable democracy and ally.
Takeaways
- 📢 Pro-Palestinian protests are occurring across the United States, leading to violent clashes between police and students.
- 🚔 Over 20 people were arrested at the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of Texas (U.T.) Austin during these protests.
- 🏫 At NYU, Brown University, and Columbia University, an encampment has taken over part of the campus center, resulting in over 100 arrests and the cancellation of in-person classes.
- 🗣️ House Speaker Mike Johnson was on Columbia's campus to call for the resignation of Columbia's president amidst the protests.
- 📱 A cell phone video captured a large crowd chanting 'Free Palestine' and heckling Johnson during his speech.
- 🔒 The Columbia Library was placed under lockdown due to the large, potentially hostile crowd.
- 💬 Johnson criticized the protests as not being an expression of the First Amendment but rather threats and intimidation against Jewish students.
- 🤔 Johnson questioned the protesters' support for Hamas, which had endorsed the protest, and their denial of past atrocities committed by the group.
- 🕊️ A Jewish student at Columbia argued that the focus should be on the war's material reality and the impact of U.S. munitions on Palestinians, rather than the campus protest.
- 🏛️ Johnson emphasized the importance of supporting Israel, which he views as a stable democracy and an ally, and criticized the idea of blaming Israel for civilian casualties.
- 🚨 The NYPD had not received any reports of physical harm from Columbia University, but Johnson highlighted the fear felt by Jewish students and the need for strong university leadership.
Q & A
What was the primary reason for the protests at various universities mentioned in the script?
-The protests were pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with some violent clashes occurring between police and students at USC and U.T. Austin.
How many people were arrested during the protests at USC and U.T. Austin?
-More than 20 people were arrested during the protests at USC and U.T. Austin.
Which universities experienced significant protests leading to the cancellation of in-person classes?
-NYU, Brown University, and Columbia University experienced significant protests leading to the cancellation of in-person classes.
What was the reaction of the crowd when House Speaker Mike Johnson called for the resignation of the Columbia University president?
-The crowd heckled, booed, and chanted 'Free Palestine,' indicating a very hostile reaction.
What organization endorsed the protests, according to Speaker Johnson?
-Speaker Johnson mentioned that Hamas endorsed the protests.
What did Speaker Johnson say about the nature of the protests?
-Speaker Johnson said the protests were not an expression of the First Amendment or an exchange of ideas, but rather threats and intimidation of violence against Jewish students.
How did the protests impact the daily activities on Columbia University's campus?
-The protests led to the cancellation of in-person classes, and the campus administration implemented a hybrid model for classes.
What concern did Jewish students at Columbia University express according to Speaker Johnson?
-Jewish students at Columbia University expressed fear for their lives and were cowering in their apartments, avoiding classes due to the threats they perceived.
What was Speaker Johnson's stance on the protests against the humanitarian situation in Gaza?
-Speaker Johnson acknowledged the right to debate and express ideas but emphasized that supporting Hamas or denying the atrocities committed on October 7th was problematic.
What did Speaker Johnson suggest about the responsibilities of university administrators?
-Speaker Johnson suggested that university administrators have a responsibility to maintain peace on campus and ensure the safety of all students, and if they fail to do so, new leadership is needed.
Outlines
📢 Pro-Palestinian Protests and Campus Tensions
The script describes escalating pro-Palestinian protests across the United States, leading to violent confrontations between law enforcement and students, particularly at USC and U.T. Austin, where over 20 arrests were made. The situation at NYU, Brown, and Columbia University is highlighted, with over 100 arrests and the cancellation of in-person classes due to continuous demonstrations. The reporter recounts their experience on Columbia's campus, where House Speaker Mike Johnson faced a hostile crowd while calling for the resignation of Columbia's president. The crowd's chanting and heckling were captured on the reporter's cell phone video. Johnson's subsequent interview inside the Columbia Library, under lockdown due to the large crowd, is detailed. Johnson discusses the nature of the protests, their endorsement by Hamas, and the alleged anti-Semitic sentiments, while also addressing the broader implications for American values and the safety of Jewish students on campus.
🔍 Addressing Campus Protests and Calls for Resignation
In this paragraph, the focus shifts to the political and security implications of the campus protests. Speaker Johnson argues that the protests are not a legitimate expression of the First Amendment but rather a display of threats and intimidation against Jewish students. He criticizes the endorsement of the protests by Hamas and the ignorance or denial of certain students regarding past atrocities. Johnson also addresses the role of Congress in addressing the issue, the responsibility of university administrators to maintain peace and safety, and the potential misuse of federal funding by educational institutions that fail to do so. The conversation touches on the broader debate about Israel's actions, the use of civilian shields by Hamas, and the need for support for Israel as an ally and a stable democracy. Johnson defends the right to free speech and debate but condemns the use of intimidation and violence in the protests. The interview concludes with Johnson's call for unity and respect for all individuals, regardless of their views.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pro-Palestinian protests
💡Violent clashes
💡Arrests
💡Encampment
💡In-person classes
💡House Speaker Mike Johnson
💡Free Palestine
💡Hamas endorsement
💡Anti-Semitic
💡First Amendment
Highlights
Pro-Palestinian protests are spreading across the United States with violent clashes between police and students.
More than 20 people were arrested at USC and U.T. Austin during protests.
Encampment at NYU, Brown University, and Columbia University has led to over 100 arrests and the cancellation of in-person classes.
Speaker Mike Johnson was heckled and booed while calling for the resignation of Columbia's president.
Johnson's team moved the press conference inside the Columbia Library due to the large, unfriendly crowd.
Johnson criticized the protests as not representative of American values or the First Amendment.
Hamas endorsed the protests, which Johnson argued is anti-Semitic.
Johnson accused the protesters of supporting atrocities committed by Hamas.
A Jewish Columbia student argued that the real threats to Jewish students come from the war's material reality and U.S. support for Israel.
Johnson defended Israel's actions as a battle between good and evil, civilization and barbarism.
Johnson stated that Israel is doing its best to prevent civilian casualties and is not the aggressor.
Johnson questioned the university's ability to maintain peace and safety, suggesting a need for stronger leadership.
Johnson's involvement in the issue was justified by the university's receipt of federal funding and the need to ensure appropriate use of those funds.
Johnson emphasized the importance of treating every person with dignity and respect, which he believes is not happening at Columbia.
Johnson called on his colleagues in Congress to speak out against the situation and support Israel.
Johnson defended his presence at Columbia as part of his constitutional responsibility as Speaker of the House.
Transcripts
Breaking news.
There are
pro-Palestinian protests
across the United States spreading
violent clashes today
between police and students
at USC and U.T.
Austin,
where more than 20 people were arrested.
This follows protests at NYU Brown
University and Columbia
University, where an encampment
has taken over
part of the center of campus.
More than 100 have been arrested.
In-person
classes have been canceled after eight
straight days of demonstrations.
I was on that campus earlier today
to interview the House
speaker, Mike Johnson.
This is what I saw and heard.
I just walked out.
There were hundreds
of people on the steps
where he and other GOP
representatives
that he had brought along with him
and his entourage spoke.
They were and I'm going to show you here,
this is my cell phone video.
Chanting, Free
Palestine, heckling, booing
when Johnson called
for the president of the school
to resign. They were not friendly.
They couldn't actually hear the speaker,
which I can tell you is a good thing
because much of what he said
would have incensed that crowd.
And after the press conference,
the speaker's team moved us inside
and into the Columbia Library,
where the speaker did interviews.
They put that entire space under lockdown
because of that large crowd.
So here's our conversation
right after that.
Hundreds of people outside when we moved
rushed inside, inside the library.
Moments after that tense
press conference,
the Speaker Johnson, you know,
thanks for your time.
Obviously,
there's a lot going on in Congress
right now.
You've chosen to travel to New York
and as you were just out on the steps
calling for the resignation
of the president here of Columbia.
There was heckling, there was shouting.
It was not a warm reception.
Enjoy your free speech.
Were you surprised at all by
what happened?
Well, there was a sea of students
who apparently have been involved
in the protests here.
And I'm not surprised
that they didn't welcome our visit
because we're calling
out their activities.
But the point we tried to make today
is that this is not who
we are as Americans.
This is not
an expression of the First Amendment.
This is not an exchange of ideas.
This is
this is threats and intimidation
of violence
against Jewish students
for who they are, for their faith.
And that's a terrible trend
that's going on in the country right now.
We have these similar types
of activities.
And in
what are becoming violent protests
on campuses around the country.
And members of Congress,
I believe,
have an obligation and a responsibility
to speak about this and to
and to demand that it come to an end
because it's not good for us.
The main thing they were chanting
was Free Palestine.
But how is that anti-Semitic?
Well, what's anti-Semitic
is that Hamas endorsed this protest today
within the last 2 hours,
they issued an endorsement statement
and heralded
the students here and said
this is the next generation
of leadership in America.
If you're getting endorsed by Hamas,
that's not a good look.
It's not a good sign.
Some of these students
apparently are unaware
of the atrocities of October 7th
or they're denying it.
They deny that women and children
were brutally raped
and murdered,
that infants were placed into ovens
and cooked alive.
The things that happened
there are unspeakable.
And yet they're out there
waving flags
for the very people
who committed those atrocities.
This is not who we are.
Speaker, in those early days
was in some of the kibbutz
and you could smell the death
and the bodies.
It was horrific.
And yet what's happened
since has been horrific, too.
And there's a student here,
a pitching student at Columbia.
I wanted to quote him. He is Jewish.
He has written a testimonial
about what's going on here right
now, his experience on campus.
And he says, I'll read it to you.
The most pressing threats
to our safety
as Jewish students
do not come from tents on campus.
We should be focusing
on the material reality of war.
The munitions
our government is sending to Israel,
which kill Palestinians by the thousands,
and the Americans
participating in the violence.
Do you think that protesting
the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,
protesting the tens of thousands
of innocent people
who have died there,
is anti-Semitic in and of itself?
I think there's always a place
for debate in the free exchange of ideas.
But let's not equivocate
on what's happening in Hamas
with Hamas and in Gaza.
This is a battle, as Netanyahu
said, Prime Minister Netanyahu said,
between good versus
evil, light versus darkness,
civilization versus barbarism.
This isn't a close call.
We have terrorist
who preyed upon
and attacked viciously and killed
many innocent Israelis.
And the idea that they would be out here
in support of that.
Hamas is using civilians
as as shields for themselves.
They put their
their operations
under hospitals and schools.
They are
they're using civilians
in a theater of war.
And so it's difficult.
Why would someone blame Israel
for trying to stamp out
the very terrorist threats
that are right there on the doorstep?
We should not be dictating
to Israel their military strategy.
We should be supporting our ally,
which is the only stable democracy.
Is there anything Israel could do
that would be over the line for you?
Because when you talk about
stamping it out,
I mean, many innocent children have died
and are dying at Israel's hands.
And the IDF,
they have there have
been civilians murdered.
But that is not
the fault of Israel,
is the fault of the terrorists, the Hamas
operators and soldiers, the terrorists
who have used these people
and put them into harm's way.
Israel,
I'm convinced, is doing its very best
to prevent civilian casualties.
But this is a war,
and they're fighting
for their very existence,
and they are not the aggressors.
It is the other side.
Some of the people here
seem not to understand that,
and I think that's a real problem.
We can debate the merits
of all these things,
but what they're doing here
is intimidating Jewish students.
That's the thing that is so problematic.
All right.
So let me ask you about that,
because when it comes to that, the NYPD,
at least
as of Monday, said
they've not received a single
call from Columbia University of reports
of any physical harm.
No physical harm. Right.
But you have to speak
to these Jewish students
who are in fear of their lives,
who were cowering in their apartments
right now, who are not coming to class.
In fact,
the administration recognized
the threat was so great,
they canceled classes.
Now they've come out with this
hybrid idea.
Well, if you're Jewish,
maybe you do want to stay at home.
Maybe you'd be better off for you.
But it's so discriminatory.
It's so wrong in every way.
The responsibility
of a university
administrator is to keep peace on campus
and ensure the safety of students.
Job number one.
If they're incapable of doing that,
they need different leadership.
I think this is time
for a really strong hand.
I'm trying to understand, though,
why is Speaker of the House
this is an issue
you would want to get involved with.
It's a private university.
It's an issue happening here.
Why is this something
that you are choosing to get involved in,
in calling for the removal
of the president of a private university?
Well, they they receive federal
funding as well.
And Congress
is looking at all of these aspects
to determine
how they're using those funds.
Is that appropriate
if they can't fulfill
their basic obligations?
I don't think the American taxpayers
want to be funding this kind of thing.
We know that professors are are engaging
in this as well.
Some of the professors,
some have been supportive
of the Jewish students.
But I believe it's a small subset
for one I've told.
They've allowed this to go on
and it is not okay
with the American people.
This isn't a partizan issue.
This is about right and wrong.
And we've got to call it for what it is.
And so when
when people talk about genocide
and say that Israel is
engaging in genocide,
do you think that that is
a legitimate conversation
that they should be allowed
to have as part of First Amendment
rights here?
Well, of course.
Look, I was a First Amendment lawyer
for 20 years.
I went to the courts and defended
our First Amendment freedoms,
religious expression,
the right of free speech on campus.
I litigated those cases.
Of course,
the university is supposed to be
the free marketplace of ideas.
But when you shout down
and physically threaten
with intimidation
and threats of violence,
the other side, that is not a peaceful
expression as people's
peaceful exchange of ideas.
That's something very different.
And that's what we're saying
they need to get control of
when they camp out around the campus
and they prevent students
from exercising their rights.
That's the problem.
Before you go, obviously,
we're here in New York
as there's been threats
to your speakership back in Washington.
What does it say about
your standing as speaker
that you are here
at Columbia University
dealing with this issue right now?
The speaker of the House
is has a very important
constitutional responsibility.
It's an officer
listed in the Constitution.
The speaker speaks
for the House of Representatives.
And I felt
it was very important, important
for that voice to be heard
not just about what happens at Columbia,
but about what is happening right now
around the country.
And we have to stand unequivocally
for the right
and the good and I'm
calling on all my colleagues
on both sides of the aisle
to speak out against this,
not to not to endorse it, not to
to coddle these people,
but to say this has to stop.
We have to treat every single person
with dignity and respect.
And that's not happening here
and it's an atrocity.
Speaker Johnson, thanks
very much for your time. Thank you.
Conducted that interview just
about a couple hours ago.
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