DeSantis says he’d send DOJ after universities where pro-Hamas protests run rampant

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis called for federal action against pro-Hamas student demonstrators who have lead to increased tensions at several northeastern Ivy League schools.

“The Biden Justice and Education Departments are asleep at the wheel regarding antisemitism on college campuses,” he said, “Both agencies should hold these universities accountable, and the visa of any foreign student who is championing Hamas should be canceled.”

Ivy League schools, such as Columbia, have seen increased pro-Hamas demonstrations on their campuses.

“Right now in higher education, particularly in those schools up there, the inmates run the asylum,” DeSantis said during a press conference Monday. “The students who do this stuff know that there isn’t going to be any repercussions. The minute there’s repercussions, you will start to see a change in behavior.”

He compared the actions of the federal government to combat antisemitism to the work that has been done in Florida across its public universities and campuses.

“In Florida, at our state universities, there’s a code of conduct,” he said. “You have a right to protest, but you don’t have a right to harass other people and you don’t have a right to put a target on somebodies back based on their religion or ethnicity.”

He argued that if the demonstrators are students on education visas, their visas should be terminated and they should be sent home.

“If it’s American students, and they’re violating code of conduct, you start expelling people, the behavior will change,” he said.

Columbia University has reported that, as of Monday, all in-person classes have moved online due to the increased threats that the demonstrators have caused.

The school’s president, Minouche Shafik, argued that the protests and disruptions were not affiliated with Columbia students, and instead resulted from individuals who came onto campus to “pursue their own agenda.”

“There is a terrible conflict raging in the Middle East with devastating human consequences. I understand that many are experiencing deep moral distress and want Columbia to help alleviate this by taking action,” she said. “We should be having serious conversations about how Columbia can contribute. There will be many views across our diverse community about how best to do this and that is as it should be.”

“But we cannot have one group dictate terms and attempt to disrupt important milestones like graduation to advance their point of view. Let’s sit down and talk and argue and find ways to compromise on solutions,” she added.

Columbia professor Shai Davidai lashed out against the demonstrators during a pro-Israel counter-protest in Central Park.

“You have students at Columbia University and faculty at Columbia University who are cheering on Hamas!” he said. “And the administration, Columbia’s administration not only won’t do anything about it, they are refusing to let the NYPD in! They are letting the terrorists in and keeping the NYPD out!”

He also went after New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, alleging a lack of action to help the campus and its students.

“We are going to rid this country of terrorists and terrorist supporters,” he added.