The chancellors and presidents of over 100 universities signed a letter in which they denounced the Hamas terror attacks against Israel.
“A broad coalition of more than 100 institutions of higher education, including public and private, faith-based, and historically Black colleges and universities have joined together to stand against terrorism,” Universities United Against Terrorism wrote.
“The coalition members have signed onto a clear statement based on core unifying principles – Hamas is a terrorist organization and the Palestinian people are not represented by Hamas. In fact, they are being harmed by Hamas,” the group wrote, adding, “We encourage presidents and chancellors of all U.S. and global colleges and universities to join the effort by sending an e-mail.”
“We stand together with Israel against Hamas,” the statement from Universities United Against Terrorism reads. “We are horrified and sickened by the brutality and inhumanity of Hamas. Murdering innocent civilians including babies and children, raping women and taking the elderly as hostages are not the actions of political disagreement but the actions of hate and terrorism.”
“The basis of all universities is a pursuit of truth, and it is times like these that require moral clarity,” the letter continued. “Like the fight against ISIS, the fight against Hamas is a fight against evil. We, the presidents and chancellors of universities and colleges across the United States of America and the world, stand with Israel, with the Palestinians who suffer under Hamas’ cruel rule in Gaza and with all people of moral conscience.”
Signed by the Presidents and Chancellors of over 100 Colleges and Universities and counting:
We Stand Together
With Israel Against Hamas
We are horrified and sickened by the brutality and inhumanity of Hamas. Murdering innocent civilians including babies and children, raping… pic.twitter.com/pcsPym9RLK— Eli Klein (@TheEliKlein) November 3, 2023
While those chancellors and presidents were taking a hard stance against terrorism, other university presidents have remained silent in the face of anti-Semitism targeting Jewish students on their campuses. In a viral video, a Columbia University professor blasted university presidents, including his own, for their cowardice in not making Jewish students feel safe on their campuses.
“Please take out your phones because I want this message to get to every parent who sent their kids to Columbia University and trusted their kids and their children’s safety with us,” Professor Shai Davidai of the Columbia Business School told the assembled students. “I want this message to get to parent in America who sends their kids to NYU, to Harvard, to Stanford, to Berkeley. And I want you to know one thing – we cannot protect your child.”
“I am Israeli, but before all of that, I am a dad,” he continued. “I have two beautiful children and I’m talking to you; I speaking to you as a dad and I want you to know, we cannot protect your children from pro-terrorist student organizations because the president of Columbia University will not speak out against pro-terror student organizations. Because the president of Harvard University, because the president of Stanford, because the president of Berkeley – they will not speak out against pro-terror student organizations.”
To the presidents of @Columbia, @nyuniversity, @Harvard and other universities who have stood SILENT as terror supporters have marched through campus and celebrated raping women, executing children and kidnapping grandmothers, you are cowards.
Listen to Columbia Professor and… pic.twitter.com/PoTXnAWZtp
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 19, 2023