Columbia University issued an ultimatum to the pro-Hamas students who are demanding the school cut disinvest with Israel, a nation they also want to see destroyed: clear out or face suspension. That deadline has long passed, and faculty have formed a human chain to protect the pro-terrorist students.
JUST IN: Columbia University faculty create a human chain to block off the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" as teachers and students defy order to disperse by 2 pm.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 29, 2024
200 students remained in the encampment, refusing to comply with Columbia's demands.
President Minouche Shafik said… pic.twitter.com/uTLQuLWl9V
Has anyone from the Biden administration spoken with the university’s administration amid this chaos? Based on White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s response, it doesn’t seem that way. Newsbusters’ Curtis Houck clipped the exchange. CBS News’ Weijia Jiang asked the question:
CBS's @Weijia Jiang: “I’m sorry if I missed this, but is the answer no, the administration has not been in touch with anyone at Columbia?”
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 29, 2024
KJP: “I — I don't have any — uh — read out — I should have — I should have answered that in, I believe that was Jeff's question, um, I — I —… pic.twitter.com/3pdYfNBqDM
I — I don't have any — uh — read out — I should have — I should have answered that in, I believe that was Jeff's question, um, I — I — I don't have any calls to read out to you of a conversations with any university, any university leaders — uh, at this time. Uh, obviously the president's going to go speak at Morehouse, and so we've been in touch with them because he's going to give a deliver a commencement speech. He's looking forward to doing that. It is such an important moment in time for graduates, and he's gonna go obviously to — uh — to West Point. Those are the two that he's doing.”
Where’s the leadership?
Regarding the president being in contact with Columbia, which has become a mecca for jihad, Ms. Jean-Pierre repeated the standard line, which does not answer the question, saying that they support peaceful protest:
Q: "Has the president...spoken to [Columbia] university leadership? Is the president satisfied with how they're handling the situation?"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 29, 2024
KJP: "Look, we've said this many times, this is nothing new. The president has always been clear..." pic.twitter.com/v4Wp7r1FUP
When asked about clearing out these encampments, the press secretary added that caution must be followed since some colleges are private. She deferred to college administrations regarding how to handle the pro-Hamas rabble.
KJP when pressed on the situation at Columbia University and if leadership should take action to remove the encampments:
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 29, 2024
"So, gotta be super, super, mindful. These are institutions — some of them are private, some of them are public — and it is up to their leadership...to make… pic.twitter.com/X7kgJZgKYR
The press corps wasn’t going to let this fade away. When asked again whether anyone was in contact with Columbia, Ms. Jean-Pierre said, “I don't have any readout.”
Q: "Is the answer, 'no,' the administration has not been in touch with anyone at Columbia?"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 29, 2024
KJP: "I don't have any readout...I don't have any calls to readout to you of conversations with any university leaders at this time." pic.twitter.com/uojLySM3ef
Finally, should the Columbia Hamas chapter disperse?
“I'm just not gonna comment on leadership at colleges and universities, their decisions. That's for them to decide,” Jean-Pierre replied.
Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly dodges questions about whether or not Columbia should take action against pro-Hamas antagonists on campus:
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 29, 2024
Q: "The protestors have defied the 2 PM deadline. Should they leave?"
KJP: "I'm just not gonna comment on leadership at colleges and… pic.twitter.com/NtceKXN4yI
In other words, these kids are going to continue to cause havoc.