'Hamas We Love You': Columbia University Shuts Down In-Person Classes Amid Massive Anti-Israel Demonstration

On Monday, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced that students would move to remote classes due to ongoing protests by anti-Israel demonstrators that have engulfed the campus in recent days. The news comes after demonstrators have disrupted campus activity over the past week and openly rooted for the terrorist group Hamas.

"To deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps, I am announcing that all classes will be held virtually on Monday. Faculty and staff who can work remotely should do so," Shafik wrote in a memo to students and staff. "During the coming days, a working group of Deans, university administrators and faculty members will try to bring this crisis to a resolution."

The Columbia president added that there had been much "debate" about the use of police on campus after 108 demonstrators were arrested by the NYPD last week at the request of the administration to break up the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" that had been occupying campus for over 24 hours. "I do know that better adherence to our rules and effective enforcement mechanisms would obviate the need for relying on anyone else to keep our community safe," she wrote in reference to asking police to end the protest. "We should be able to do this ourselves."

The statement comes after Orthodox Rabbi Elie Buechler, the co-director of the school's Jewish Leaning Initiative, warned over 250 Jewish students in a WhatsApp message over the weekend that the campus is no longer safe amid the ongoing anti-Semitic protests. "What we are witnessing in and around campus is terrible and tragic. The events of the last few days, especially last night, have made it clear that Columbia University's Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students' safety in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy," the rabbi wrote. "It deeply pains me to say that I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved."

Over the weekend, demonstrators could be heard shouting, "Al-Qassam, you make us proud! Take another soldier out! We say justice; you say how? Burn Tel Aviv to the ground! Hamas, we love you. We support your rockets, too! Red, black, green, and white, we support Hamas' fight! It is right to rebel, Al-Qassam, give them hell! It is right to rebel, Hamas give them hell! Free, free, free Palestine!" Columbia University announced on Sunday that they have more than doubled its safety personnel, improved ID checks, and increased security around the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life, per National Review.

The chaos seen at Columbia University and the blatant hatred and antisemitism seen on the campus prove just how radical many of the students and some of the faculty are at America's elite Ivy League schools. The fact that the university administration allows the campus to be practically shut down is unacceptable and shouldn't be tolerated.  

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