‘Words Not Spoken YESTERDAY’: Harvard Pres. Roasted For New Vow to Protect Jewish Students Day After Controversial Hearing
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Harvard’s President Dr. Claudine Gay released a statement on Wednesday vowing to hold accountable anyone on campus who threatens Jewish students – a day after failing to do so at a highly contentious hearing on Capitol Hill. Dr. Gay’s statement was quickly met with scorn and mockery from across the political spectrum.
Harvard tweeted the following statement on Wednesday:
Statement from President Gay: There are some who have confused a right to free expression with the idea that Harvard will condone calls for violence against Jewish students. Let me be clear: Calls for violence or genocide against the Jewish community, or any religious or ethnic group are vile, they have no place at Harvard, and those who threaten our Jewish students will be held to account.
On Tuesday, Gay was repeatedly pressed by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) if calls for “intifada” or “genocide” against Jews are “contrary to Harvard’s code of conduct” or are “allowed at Harvard?” Gay said she was aware of such rhetoric on her campus and that she found it “abhorrent,” but when pushed if it violated the code of conduct Gay said Harvard protected free speech.
“We embrace a commitment to free expression and give a wide berth to free expression, even of views that are objectionable,” Dr. Gay said during the hearing.
‘Words not spoken YESTERDAY, on the record, on camera, when given ample opportunity,” replied CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga to the statement.
Fox News anchor Gillian Turner replied, “Did not say this under oath on Capitol Hill yesterday though….”
“Why didn’t you say this yesterday? Why was that so difficult to do?” added legal analyst Bradley Moss.
Hugh Hewitt added, “Just quit. Or Harvard Corporation and Board of Overseers fire President Gay and everyone in the administration and on the faculty who have created or indulged this environment of anti-Semitic hate and left-wing ideology that is omnipresent at the university.”
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