Mayor Adams Decries Antisemitic Protests at Columbia University

By Hamodia Staff

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released a statement in response to the ongoing protests occurring at Columbia University:

“I am horrified and disgusted with the antisemitism being spewed at and around the Columbia University campus — like the example of a young woman holding a sign with an arrow pointing to Jewish students stating ‘Al-Qasam’s Next Targets,’ or another where a woman is literally yelling ‘We are Hamas,’ or another where groups of students are chanting ‘We don’t want no Zionists here’ — and I condemn this hate speech in the strongest of terms. Supporting a terrorist organization that aims is to kill Jews is sickening and despicable.

“As I have repeatedly said, hate has no place in our city, and I have instructed the NYPD to investigate any violation of law that is reported. Rest assured, the NYPD will not hesitate to arrest anyone who is found to be breaking the law.

The mayor explained that since Columbia University is a private institution on private property, the NYPD cannot have a presence on campus unless specifically requested by senior university officials. In response to the protests and harassment that has taken place on the Columbia University campus, the NYPD has an increased presence of officers situated around the campus to protect students and all New Yorkers on nearby public streets. “(The police) stand ready to respond if another request is made by the university, as they did on Thursday, when the NYPD successfully cleared encampments on Columbia’s South Lawn without any injuries,” said Mayor Adams.

“I urge Columbia’s senior administration officials to improve and maintain an open line of communication with the NYPD to ensure the safety of all students and staff on campus, as well as for the safety of all New Yorkers.

“As mayor of the city with the largest Jewish community in the world outside of Israel, the pain these protests are causing Jews across the globe is not lost on me, especially as we start Passover tomorrow evening. I also see and hear the pain of those protesting in support of innocent lives being lost in Gaza.

“In this moment of heightened tension around the world, we stand united against hate,” the mayor concluded.