New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Sunday an increased police presence around the perimeter of Columbia University amid ongoing protests. However, Adams clarified that the NYPD cannot have a presence on campus unless specifically requested by senior university officials, as Columbia University is a private institution on private property.
Meanwhile, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft declared that he will no longer donate to Columbia University in light of the campus protests against Israel. Kraft, who founded the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, stated in a release that Columbia is no longer recognizable to him as the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” persists.
Expressing deep sadness at the escalating hate on campus and across the nation, Kraft, a scholarship alumnus of Columbia, cited concerns about the university’s ability to protect its students and staff. He emphasized the need for immediate collective action at Columbia, indicating that he will withhold support until the protests cease.
The ongoing demonstrations stem from students’ demands for the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel. The protesters have vowed to occupy the lawn on Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus until their demands are met.