Democrats appear to have differing ideas for how to listen to the anti-Israel demonstrations and encampments that have sprung up all over the country, particularly in the midst of Tuesday night’s New York Police Department attack on Columbia University.
While some Democrat officials, like Sen. John Fetterman ( D- PA ), have expressed thankfulness that Columbia University” chose to have the officers come in and take charge”, people, like Rep. Jamaal Bowman ( D- NY), slammed the police response over kids” simply exercising their first act right”.
” The demonstrators at Columbia demonstrated that there are two groups of the protesters — eager the pro- Hamas, and then there’s the truly pro- Hamas”, Fetterman told Semafor.
Protesters break windows of a tower on April 30, 2024, on Columbia University’s campus to blockade themselves. ( Alex Kent/Getty Images )
Fetterman has been a staunch supporter of Israel in the aftermath of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault, which saw 1, 200 people dying and more than 200 individuals taken as victims.
After pro-Palestinian activists had taken control of the intellectual building, NYPD officers in riot gear stormed Columbia University later on Tuesday night, smashing glass gates, carrying barricades, and hanging pro-Palestine flags from the windows.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who asserted that” the responsibility will fall on the president” and that Columbia University President Minouche Shafik was the subject of harsh criticism for the attack.
” Another officials and institutions have found a healthy, de- escalatory path”, Ocasio- Cortez wrote. This is contrary to command and threatens public safety. A problem in the doing. I urge the Mayor to change training”.
If any person is hurt now, obligation will fall on the governor and univ presidents.
Another leaders and colleges have found a secure, de- escalatory path. This is the reverse of authority and threatens public health. A problem in the doing.
I urge the Mayor to change program. https ://t.co/52eAEfbJjq
— Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez ( @AOC ) May 1, 2024
Bowman even criticized the police’s treatment of the pro-Palestine demonstrators at Columbia University, criticizing the NYPD for “brutality” against the protesters in a statement.
” And for what? Just exercising their first amendment rights to happily assemble in opposition of the Israeli government’s social consequence of the citizens in Gaza, Bowman said.
The protesters were criticized by New York City Mayor Eric Adams ( D) for removing the Palestinian flag from the flag pole.
You do n’t take control of our buildings and raise another flag; other people may think that’s fine, but not me. My aunt died defending this state”, Adams said.
Anti-Israel protests and outposts have sprung up all over the country in recent weeks in support of the first camp that was set up at Columbia University on April 17th.
Pro-Palestinian protesters had barricaded themselves to the classic Hamilton Hall building in New York on April 30, 2024, and NYPD officers entered the building and detained them. ( Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images )
The day after the initial extra- Israel camp was established on the school, many individuals, including Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar’s ( D) child Isra Hirsi, were suspended and thousands of protesters were arrested.
Omar has backed the students who are enrolled in Columbia University’s camp.
While the first camp was removed, another one popped up in its place. Finally, the school felt it was “left with no option” other than to call the police.
