Speaker Mike Johnson booed at Columbia University as he calls for president to quit unless pro-Palestine protests quelled
House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia University today amid ongoing pro-Palestine protests to call for the university's president to resign and to address Jewish students.
He called the protests "disgusting" and "unnecessary" ahead of his visit. The day before his visit, the UN issued a report that it had found "mass graves" in Gaza, where Palestinians — including women, the elderly, and the wounded — had been found dead. Some of the remains allegedly had their hands bound.
Mr Johnson arrived to chorus of boos and consistent shouts from protesters, including chants of "we can't hear you."
He said Israel and Jewish students would "never stand alone" and said the protesters were supporting terrorists and "gnashing their teeth" at the existence of Israel.
Mr Johnson continued, calling the protesters "lawless agitators" and characterised all of the pro-Palestine protests across US campuses as "antisemitic”.
At one point, Mr Johnson stopped his speech due to ongoing chants and said "enjoy your free speech".
He said he met with Jewish students at the campus who described being harassed and intimidated for their faith and, for some, their support of Israel.
Anti-Zionist Jewish students have joined with pro-Palestine protesters for the ongoing demonstrations.
Mr Johnson called on Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign for her "failure," in his estimation, to protect Jewish students on campus.
The House Speaker said she should step down unless she could immediately end the protests on campus.
He was met with a loud chorus of boos after calling for her resignation.
As he was leaving, one protester could be heard shouting above the crowd “get the f*** out of here, boy”.
