Commonwealth Policy Center

Student protests in support of Palestine are breaking out on college campuses across the nation. Protesters, including students at Columbia University, have taken over buildings and disrupted classes.  College students have a history of protesting. Of course, it’s one thing to protest against policies. It’s quite another when protesters are calling for genocide of the Jewish people and the elimination of the Jewish state. University administrators at Northwestern and Columbia have failed to stand up against violent rhetoric and anti-semitism. As a result, Jewish students on campus face ugly threats, and a hostile climate, which is simply unacceptable. It’s time that university leaders found their voice and make clear that some speech crosses a line and is incompatible with higher education.