Staff Reports
Republican leaders in the House are raising concerns over the handling of pro-Palestinian encampments on college campuses amid the Israel-Gaza conflict, accusing Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and the city’s police department of refusing to clear out what they describe as “radical, antisemitic, and unlawful protesters.”
House @EdWorkforceCmte and @GOPoversight chairs slam Bowser and DC police over refusal to clear pro-Palestinian encampments https://t.co/9bg9l52YhA https://t.co/9bg9l52YhA
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 30, 2024
House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx and Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer have sent a letter to Bowser and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith, criticizing their alleged refusal to assist in removing the encampment at George Washington University. The GOP chairs have expressed dismay over the reported obstruction from the MPD and the Office of the Mayor, arguing that it goes against the actions of police departments and local governments in other states.
Additionally, they highlighted the University’s efforts to protect its Jewish student body from persecution and harassment and condemned the vandalism of statues and obstruction of media coverage. The lawmakers are demanding answers regarding the refusal to provide assistance, the conditions for intervention, and the alignment of the MPD’s refusal with its mission statement, setting a deadline for a response.
This incident comes as the House gears up to vote on the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023, which aims to address antisemitism on college campuses. The bill has received bipartisan support and is scheduled for a vote in the House.
The issue has sparked bipartisan condemnation of the protesters and calls for a stronger stance against antisemitism, as tensions continue to rise amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Republican leaders’ letter exemplifies their commitment to addressing what they perceive as a failure to uphold the safety and well-being of students and combat instances of antisemitism.
