On October 7, 2023, a series of pivotal events unfolded that could shape the landscape of the upcoming November election.
It was then that Hamas launched a bold and terrifying attack on Israel, sparking a Middle East conflagration that dwarfed the wars of 1967 and 1973.
The issue of abortion remains a key factor in this fall’s elections. But the Middle East has the potential to replace it. The divisions dividing the Democratic Party are now on full display in squares across the country. Photos of occupations, tent cities, and looted university buildings are now a staple of the daily news. This dates back almost 54 years to the day of the massacre at Kent State University in Ohio.
Democrats have struggled to balance support for human rights in Gaza with students’ First Amendment rights. But many of these demonstrations are permeated by widespread anti-Semitism. This is not lost on voters. Democrats are torn between criticizing the protests and not alienating their own support base.
On April 30, 2024, New York City police officers arrest anti-Israel protesters who had barricaded themselves in the Hamilton Hall building after entering the Columbia University building. (Selcuk Achar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
College girl who stands up for American flag gets hit with object by anti-Israel demonstrators
Cynics might argue that Republicans are exploiting divisions in the Democratic Party. But Republicans don’t actually have to do much. The daily college competition speaks for itself.
Frankly, neither party has much legislative agenda for the rest of the year. The foreign aid package is complete. TikTok has become a hot topic. Months of work on a bipartisan border security package evaporated in minutes over the winter. Nothing exists in a vacuum. In other words, the university brawl just opened up an opening for the Republican Party. And Republicans appear better equipped to tackle this issue than Democrats.
“Students are students, they’re going to demonstrate, and that’s just a portion of college students,” said Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the House Education Committee. He said: “There is a difference between anti-war protests and anti-Semitism. And many of the protests are anti-Semitism.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) led the challenge to higher education. Mr. Johnson represented multiple committee chairs and initiated numerous investigations and hearings into possible misconduct by the university, failures to protect students, and threats to turn off funding to the university.
“The biggest source of funding is coming from us, so we’re looking at how to condition that funding on how they treat campuses in situations like this,” the Senate said. House Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) promised.
House Republicans have already been targeting higher education for months with great success. “One loss, two more to go,” Rep. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) boasted after University of Pennsylvania’s Liz McGill resigned in December following Congressional testimony about anti-Semitism at the university. .
By January, Stefanik added a trophy to her collection: Harvard University’s Claudine Gay’s resignation. Gay also stumbled at the same hearing as McGill. It is worth noting that Stefanik graduated from Harvard University in 2006.
“Two down,” Stefanik said at the time.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth continues to serve after that fateful December hearing. But now Stefanik and other Republicans are going after Columbia University President Minoush Shafik after protesters stormed Hamilton Hall.
“President Shafik authorized a mob-rule takeover of the campus,” Stefanik said. “She must be removed immediately.”
Students march on the Columbia University campus in support of a protest camp supporting Palestinians, despite university officials issuing a 2 p.m. deadline for dispersal or suspension in New York City, April 29, 2024. Tachi. (Reuters/David Dee Delgado)
Colombia celebrates ‘terrorist suspect’ on campus commemorating ‘journalist’ killed in Gaza: Report
The issue of campus riots was effectively presented to Republicans on a silver mortar board. Another hearing before the House Education Committee on May 23 is expected to see public bashing of other university presidents.
The House Oversight Committee has jurisdiction over Washington, D.C., so House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) will be joining Washington, D.C., Mayor Murial Bowser, and D.C. Police Chief Pamela for next week’s meeting. -Summoned Smith. Comer said he was “deeply concerned” that D.C. police had refused a request from George Washington University to help “remove anti-Semitic and unlawful protesters” from campus.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona recently sent a letter to university presidents condemning harassment of Jewish students. In particular, Cardona said Jewish students were subjected to “verbal abuse” and found swastikas posted on their doors. Some people told me to go back to Poland.
“This and other incidents are abhorrent,” Cardona wrote.
But Republican lawmakers believe Cardona and the federal government were slow to investigate possible civil rights violations on campus. Cardona appeared at a Senate hearing earlier this week.
“Do you think this administration is following Title VI right now?” asked Sen. Katie Britt (R-Alabama).
Title VI is the part of the Civil Rights Act that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and religion.
“We’re using the resources we have,” Cardona said. “The number of infected people has tripled since 2009, and the number of people (currently investigating) has decreased by 58.”
Hundreds of students protest outside the Palestinian Solidarity Encampment on the UCLA campus on May 1, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Keith Birmingham/Media News Group/Pasadena Star News via Getty Images)
UCLA students accuse university of ‘encouraging violence’ and turning campus into ‘war zone’: ‘This is shameful’
Cardona requested an additional $22 million this budget cycle to hire more investigators and launch additional campus investigations. But expect it to be a flashpoint. Especially since Republicans are aiming to cut funding to the Department of Education.
“Republicans tried to cut it by 25% in the 2024 budget, and as a result, funding was flat,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.
Republicans also aim to cut funding to colleges that lawmakers believe are failing to protect students.
“If you’re going to break the law and violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, you’re going to forfeit federal funds,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-Va.), the top Republican on the committee. warned. A company that handles education funds.
“Think about the research dollars that are going to these universities. Think about the federal student aid that is going to these universities. Think about the buildings that are being built with federal funds.”
Cardona agrees with some senators about cash flow.
“Ultimately, if schools refuse to comply with Title VI, then yes, we will eliminate federal funding,” Cardona testified.
But some lawmakers have suggested it’s difficult to determine when schools cross the line.
“There is a natural tension between the First Amendment (and) Title VI of the Penal Code to ensure that students have an environment free of hate and hostility,” Professor Scott said. Told. “And that’s going to be difficult to decide.”
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But the politics might be a little clearer.
Voters see chaos on campus. Some people on the right are skeptical of higher education to begin with. The Democratic Party is worried about the Middle East conflict. Republicans won the House of Representatives in part because they flipped seats in New York. That’s why new members of Congress like New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler and Rep. Anthony D’Esposito have been outspoken about the protests in Colombia.
The chaotic demonstrations at the university will officially be on the ballot this fall. And Republicans have shown they believe this environment works in their favor.
