New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a stern warning on Sunday regarding the presence of the New York City Police Department at Columbia University's campus. Mayor Adams emphasized that the NYPD should only be present at the campus if specifically requested by senior university officials. This directive comes in response to concerning incidents of antisemitism and hate speech occurring in and around the Ivy League school.
Mayor Adams expressed his deep concern over the antisemitic rhetoric targeting Jewish students at Columbia University. He highlighted a disturbing incident where a young woman displayed a sign with an arrow pointing towards Jewish students, stating 'Al-Qasam's Next Targets.' The Al-Qassam Brigade, referenced in the sign, is the military wing of Hamas.
Furthermore, the mayor cited instances of individuals openly expressing support for Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, with one woman reportedly shouting, 'We are Hamas,' and groups of students chanting, 'We don't want no Zionists here.' Mayor Adams unequivocally condemned such hate speech, labeling it as 'sickening and despicable.'
Mayor Adams reiterated his stance against hate and emphasized that there is no place for such divisive rhetoric in New York City. He instructed the NYPD to thoroughly investigate any reported violations of the law related to these incidents. The mayor assured that individuals found to be breaking the law would be promptly arrested.
In his closing remarks, Mayor Adams denounced professional agitators who seek to exploit the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to sow chaos and division within the city. He affirmed that New York City would not tolerate lawlessness and that efforts to incite discord would not succeed.
