Bob Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and founder of The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, announced that he will no longer provide funding to Columbia University due to what he views as the school’s failure to adequately address rising anti-Semitism on campus.
Kraft cited recent pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia following violence in Israel as creating an unsafe environment for Jewish students.
“The school I love so much — the one that welcomed me and provided me with so much opportunity — is no longer an institution I recognize,” Kraft stated. “I am no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff and I am not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken.”
A statement from @FCASorg Founder Robert Kraft. pic.twitter.com/6fmTGFx06e
— Stand Up to Jewish Hate #🟦 (@StandUp2JewHate) April 22, 2024
“It is my hope that Columbia and its leadership will stand up to this hate by ending these protests immediately and will work to earn back the respect and trust of the many of us who have lost faith in the institution,” he added.
“It is my hope that in this difficult time, the Kraft Center at Columbia will serve as a source of security and safety for all Jewish students and faculty on campus who want to gather peacefully to practice their religion, to be together, and to be welcomed,” the statement added.
The university president subsequently moved all classes online for one day to de-escalate tensions, acknowledging safety concerns after a rabbi warned Jewish students to leave campus due to unrest the school could not contain.
“To deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps, I am announcing that all classes will be held virtually on Monday,” Columbia University president Minouche Shafik said.
“Faculty and staff who can work remotely should do so; essential personnel should report to work according to university policy. Our preference is that students who do not live on campus will not come to campus.”
Kraft hopes Columbia will take corrective action to protect Jewish people and earn back his trust and that of others who have lost faith in the institution.
