Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) condemned the myriad anti-Israel protests taking place across college campuses in the United States, warning that similar protests in Florida would not be tolerated.
The governor argued that these protesters are interfering with people’s everyday lives when they block bridges or traffic and that the state of Florida would not permit such behavior. He pointed to the recent arrests that Miami police made when the protesters were interfering with traffic, noting how the situation was resolved “in 10 minutes.”
“When you’re chasing Jewish students around, when you’re not letting a Jewish professor enter a building, when you’re targeting people like that, that’s not free speech,” DeSantis said. “That’s harassment. That violates appropriate conduct. And yet at Columbia, Yale, all these places, those guys, those folks rule the roost! They do whatever they want!”
DeSantis then condemned the school administrations and presidents for not standing up for their Jewish students and professors, stating that the leaders are “weak” and “scared.” He warned Florida students from conducting these types of protests on campus, saying that any students holding protests against Jews would be expelled.
Last year, the state university system of Florida declared that campus chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine must be “deactivated” due to their support for the Hamas terrorist group. The decision was made in consultation with DeSantis.
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On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) visited Columbia University, which has received the most attention for its protests. The House speaker has called for President Joe Biden to bring in the National Guard to protect Jewish students on campus, a move that Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) have spoken in favor of.
Biden has condemned the “vile” reports of antisemitism on display from some protesters while also voicing compassion for Gaza residents. When asked about Johnson’s demand for the National Guard, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters they had not received a call from the speaker’s office.
