In a recent statement, Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, drew a parallel between the campus protests that have been taking place nationwide in response to Israel’s campaign in Gaza and the lead-up to the Holocaust. He expressed his belief that these protests are reminiscent of the historical events that occurred before the Holocaust.
During a recent interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Kraft expressed his concerns about the increasing signs of extreme hatred that he observed when he established the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. This foundation was created as a response to the “Unite the Right” protest that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, back in 2017. As a longtime supporter of Columbia University, Kraft is deeply committed to combating antisemitism and promoting understanding and tolerance.
He believes that the current college protests are reminiscent of the factors that contributed to the rise of the Nazis.
“It’s reminiscent of what happened in Germany in the 1930s,” Kraft expressed concern. “I noticed the emergence of hate five years ago, and now I fear that history may repeat itself in the 1940s. We need to take a stand and show that good people won’t tolerate this. This is where strong leadership comes into play.”
“It is absolutely shocking to witness the fear among young Jewish students at Columbia University, right here in the vibrant city of New York,” he expressed with concern. “These students should feel safe and secure in their own community, yet they are apprehensive about returning home.”
Jewish students at Columbia University have been subjected to offensive rhetoric, including being told to “go back to Poland” and “stop killing children,” according to Chabad at Columbia, the local chapter of the global Hasidic-Orthodox Jewish group.
Amid reports of harassment of Jewish individuals during the campus protests, there are still other Jewish students who are actively participating in them. Moreover, Muslim students have also encountered threats on campus since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict this fall.
In November, the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights initiated investigations into several U.S. colleges and universities, along with a local school district, in response to reports of alleged incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Even though Kraft graduated from Columbia in 1963, he expressed his disappointment with today’s protests, comparing them unfavorably to the antiwar ones he witnessed as a student in the 1960s. According to Kraft, that era was characterized by an “open forum” where “free speech prevailed and people freely expressed their opinions”. However, he did commend the decision to involve the New York Police Department in arresting the protesters.
“I believe Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, and the New York Police Department did an excellent job when they were summoned,” Kraft expressed. “However, our focus now lies in ensuring that the rules on campus are enforced and that individuals are held responsible.”
Kraft took a bold step by publishing an op-ed on the front page of the New York Post. The headline read, “Stand up to Jew hatred: Campus leaders must show courage and stop radical professors from poisoning young minds.”
“The Columbia I once cherished is now unrecognizable,” Kraft expressed.
He then criticized faculty members whom he claimed prioritize politics over education. Several faculty members in protest-stricken areas have shown support for the demonstrators and their opposition to crackdowns.
Kraft recently made a decision to halt his financial support for Columbia University due to its handling of the protests. However, he mentioned in a separate interview that he will continue to support the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life on campus, stating that it has provided a sense of safety for students.
108 individuals were taken into custody during protests at Emerson College in Boston on Wednesday evening. Similarly, in Los Angeles, police arrested 93 protesters at the University of Southern California campus after issuing warnings to disperse.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a representative from Louisiana, has demanded the resignation of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik. This call comes after a meeting between the two, where Johnson expressed his dissatisfaction with Shafik’s leadership. In addition to this, Johnson has also threatened to withhold federal funding for schools.
The board of trustees at Columbia expressed its strong support for President Shafik as she leads the university through these unprecedented and difficult times.
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