Over the past six days, pro-Palestinian protests have broken out at Columbia University as protesters call for a cease-fire in Gaza and want Columbia to divest from Israel. The protests have left some Jewish students afraid for their safety, claiming some of the chants are antisemitic, and New England Patriots team owner Robert Kraft is now taking a stand.
On Monday, Robert Kraft issued a statement issued through his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism announcing that he will no longer be donating to Columbia University, saying he is “not comfortable” supporting Columbia until the university takes “corrective action.”
“It was through the full academic scholarship Columbia gave me that I was able to attend college and get my start in life and for that I have been tremendously grateful. However, the school I love so much – the one that welcomed me and provided me with so much opportunity – is no longer an institution I recognize. I am deeply saddened at the virulent hate that continues to grow on campus and throughout our country. I am no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff and I am not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken.
A statement from @FCASorg Founder Robert Kraft. pic.twitter.com/6fmTGFx06e
— Stand Up to Jewish Hate #🟦 (@StandUp2JewHate) April 22, 2024
“It is my hope that Columbia and its leadership will stand up to this hate by ending these protests immediately and will work to earn back the respect and trust of the many of us who have lost faith in the institution. It is my hope that in this difficult time, the Kraft Center at Columbia will serve as a source of security and safety for all Jewish students and faculty on campus who want to gather peacefully to practice their religion, to be together, and to be welcomed.”
