– This must be stopped, says Republican Mike Johnson about the university protests in the US.
Thursday 25 April at 04:37
Protests against Israel’s warfare in Gaza and America’s military support for Israel have ravaged American universities recently.
Prominent Republican Mike Johnson, who is the leader of the House of Representatives, made a thunderous speech when he visited Columbia University in New York on Wednesday.
Background: The Gaza war creates a university crisis in the United States
Here he asked the school’s principal Minouche Shafik to resign.
– We cannot allow this type of hatred and anti-Semitism to flourish in our schools, and it must be stopped. Those who perpetrate this violence should be punished. I am here today with my colleagues, and I am asking Principal Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately put order to this chaos.
according to CNN the Republican was met with loud boos when he took the stage to deliver his speech.
Demands that Israel ties be cut
Students across the United States are demanding that American educational institutions cut their financial ties to Israel, including by withdrawing any investments they may have in companies that sell arms to the country.
In several places, the demonstrations have ended in clashes with the police and arrests.
According to CNN, the University of Columbia has switched to allowing students who feel unsafe to take exams and follow the lessons digitally.
Also read: Then the principal himself was cancelled
Johnson tells CNN that he chose to get involved in the chaos because he speaks on behalf of the House of Representatives.
– I felt that it was very important that that voice was heard, he says.
He goes on to say that he is not surprised that he was met with boos.
Arrests in several places
On the night of Thursday Norwegian time, the University of Southern California chose to close its main area due to what they describe as “extensive activity”.
It happens after several people were arrested in connection with protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, writes CNN. According to the Los Angeles Times, around 50 arrests will be made.
Several arrests were also reported in Austin on Wednesday, writes the Guardian. Among those arrested is a local TV photographer from the channel Fox 7 Austin, reports the channel itself.
