Senator Ted Cruz from Texas took an uncompromising stance against President Biden and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for what he perceives as their inadequate handling of anti-Semitic sentiment on university campuses—instances that have been seen recently on various premier institutions across the US.
The Senator expressed his dissatisfaction in response to numerous students from highly reputed educational institutions like Columbia University, New York University, and Yale University, who have seemingly shown support for terrorist groups while openly advocating for violence against Jewish communities.
Cruz pulled no punches as he highlighted potential violations of university codes of conduct by these students. More alarmingly, he pointed out the possibility that some of these incidents may cross the line into criminal behavior, with numerous reported assaults.
Addressing the issue on his weekly ‘Verdict’ podcast alongside Ben Ferguson, Cruz matter-of-factly stated that these acts and implied threats of violence against fellow students are anything but peaceful. He added that advocating for terror against former companions doesn’t lie anywhere in the realm of peaceful protest.
The Texan Senator expressed his concern about a troubling trend, led by sitting congresswoman, Ocasio-Cortez. Cruz claimed that Ocasio-Cortez was inappropriately singling out universities like Columbia and Yale, applauding the tumultuous events taking place there.
According to him, it is clear that she is giving her implicit support to the alarming wave of anti-Semitism, while President Biden ostensibly stands by. Cruz warned of the dangerous implications of such apparent endorsements.
Cruz also referenced a recent report from the Daily Wire which commented on a drawn connection to a statement made by Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, where she likened terrorism as a form of protest against a system.
Cruz vehemently countered such a narrative, emphasizing that such misguided sympathy has no place in the academic environment nor any other. From Cruz’s perspective, terrorism can never be justified as a form of protest—it is a brutal act of violence, often indiscriminately victimizing civilians, women, and children
Drawing parallels to the horrific acts by the terrorist group Hamas, Cruz seemed to suggest that the same line of thinking was echoing through the university halls. He wanted to stress that there is nothing sympathetic or understandable about such acts of terror.
Cruz highlighted a recent incident that showcased what he sees as the alarming trend in universities. He pointed out that Columbia University had revoked access to Shai Davidai, a faculty member, due to ongoing tension with anti-Semitic protestors on campus.
Columbia appeared to side with the protestors, choosing to block Davidai’s campus access rather than addressing the protestors’ aggressive and disturbing behavior.
In this decisive action, the Ivy League institution seemed to judge its Jewish professor to be problem rather than the issue of anti-Semitism brewing on their campus—this was a point Cruz did not decline to emphasize.
Senator Cruz’s confrontational statements raise thought-provoking questions: whether top American universities have become breeding grounds for violent anti-Semitic protests, as well as whether high-ranking politicians are tacitly condoning these actions or not seeing them for the dangerous situations they truly are.
These concerns underline the importance of committed dialogue and immediate action. Particularly from our political leaders, to ensure our educational institutions remain safe spaces for learning, rather than platforms for hate and violence.
Biden’s response to the antisemitism at our universities is nothing short of pathetic.
He stood with @AOC as she’s been supporting pro-Hamas radicals who blocked Jewish students from campus.
Sadly, the mainstream of the Democrat Party is anti-Israel.https://t.co/RspmhDHd8f pic.twitter.com/rcPd957DMP
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 24, 2024
