Columbia University students jeered US House speaker, Mike Johnson on Wednesday, as he paid a visit to douse student protests that had erupted over Israel’s war in Gaza.
The students had set up a protest encampment about a week ago. However, when the University asked New York police to clear the camp and made arrests, protesters returned in numbers, bringing tents and placards.
“This is dangerous,” Mr Johnson said. “We respect free speech, we respect diversity of ideas, but there is a way to do that in a lawful manner and that’s not what this is.”
While appealing to the students to return to class and “stop the nonsense”, he also called on the University President, Nemat Shafik to step down.
The protesters, some of whom were just a few metres from the podium he was speaking, yelled and jeered him all through his speech, chanting: “We can’t hear you.”
Accusing the University of not doing enough to restore order on campus, Johnson expressed concerns about antisemitism within the University. He stated the National Guard might be called in if Jewish students were not protected.
Some demonstrators say the alleged incidents of harassment of Jewish students had been rare and exaggerated.
Students are now being allowed to choose to attend classes online, while officials are engaging protest leaders to find a way to break the impasse.