U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson faces pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson was met with vocal protests during his visit to Columbia University on Wednesday, April 24, as pro-Palestine demonstrations intensify across various university campuses. The visit, intended to support Jewish students who felt intimidated by demonstrators, coincided with Columbia University extending the deadline for an agreement to remove the protest encampment from Wednesday morning to Friday.

During his appearance, which aimed to address the concerns of antisemitism and campus safety, Speaker Johnson criticized Columbia University’s handling of the protests. He alleged that the university officials, including President Nemat Shafik, lacked control over the situation, escalating to his call for President Shafik’s resignation. Similarly, pro-Palestinian protesters demanded Shafik’s resignation, accusing her of permitting a police crackdown on their demonstrations.

At a press conference held at the university alongside other Republican lawmakers, Johnson expressed his views that the ongoing protests did not constitute legally protected free speech and accused the protesters of unlawful behavior. “This is dangerous. 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,” Johnson stated, addressing the encamped students to return to their classes and end the protests. Amidst his speech, he faced boos and chants from the crowd, including phrases like “Mike, you suck” and “Free, free Palestine.”

The Speaker hinted at the possible involvement of the National Guard to restore order if immediate actions were not effective. This statement came as universities in Texas and California also faced violent clashes between police and pro-Palestinian student protesters, with several arrests being reported.

The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Southern California experienced significant confrontations. In Austin, police were criticized for their aggressive tactics, which included detaining around 20 protesters. Accusations of police misconduct during these incidents highlighted the charged atmosphere, with reports of a female student being punched and others being dragged or violently arrested.

This series of events underscores a growing tension between free speech rights and public safety on U.S. campuses, reflecting broader national and international political conflicts. As campuses continue to be focal points for political activism, the responses from university administrations and governmental figures like Speaker Johnson will likely shape the ongoing dialogue around civil liberties and public order.