New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft warns ‘we can’t let hate grow’ after pulling support from Columbia University
COLUMBIA University's top donors are pulling their support from the school led by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Amid antisemitic tensions at Columbia University, Kraft said he was immediately stopping donations and accused the college of failing to keep Jewish students safe.
Kraft made an appearance on Fox News show Hannity to further explain his decision to revoke his funding to his alma mater.
"I never thought I'd see what's going on in America, what's happening right now," Kraft said.
Kraft spoke out against the education at Columbia, accusing professors of teaching poor values to students.
"I'm just thinking, when I went to Columbia it was a place where people listened and had compassion," Kraft continued.
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"Know we have professors who instead of teaching people how to think, are teaching them what to think."
Kraft said he will continue to support the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life, but will have no other affiliations with the school until changes are made.
"We have to keep it open we can't have this intimidation that's filtering through," Kraft said.
"We can't let the hate continue to grow and multiply the way it is. It's very sad to me."
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He hopes that the large names pulling their funding will help people stand up for Columbia's Jewish community.
"We have to let them know they have to stand up and not be silent," Kraft said.
"It starts with the Jews but then every group that feels marginalized, it will really just impact the great fabric of this country."
This comes after pro-Palestinian mobs grew so out of hand that Jewish students were advised to evacuate the campus for their safety.
At Columbia last week, pro-Palestinian activists coordinated a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on campus to “protest Columbia University’s continued financial investment in corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine.”
However, that event devolved into chaos and led to the arrest of over 100 students.
The event also caused the Jewish community on Columbia's campus to grow concerned about their safety.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik ensured that the university was working "to bring this crisis to a resolution."
“I am deeply saddened by what is happening on our campus,” she said.
“Our bonds as a community have been severely tested in ways that will take a great deal of time and effort to reaffirm.”
We have to let them know they have to stand up and not be silent.
Robert Kraft
Despite her assurances, billionaire Columbia alumni are beginning to pull their funding from the University.
According to the New York Post, other billionaires like Len Blavatnik and Leon Cooperman are suspending contributions to Columbia.
“Columbia University’s leadership must take immediate steps to ensure that Jewish students are protected from threats and intimidation, and that those who violate their policies are held to account,” Blavatnik told The Post.
Cooperman, Blavatnik, and Kraft have combined to donate nearly $100 million to Columbia which has gone towards multiple buildings including a center for Jewish students.
Kraft released a statement through the Stand Up to Jewish Hate X account, providing his reasons for ending his contributions to Columbia.
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"I am deeply saddened at the virulent hate that continues to grow on campus and throughout our country," Kraft said.
"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."
