He wants university presidents to “come to the Senate and Congress and be very specific what their mission statement is and why they’re letting down the families and students they’re there to protect.”

The federal government, Garvey said, “cannot fund colleges and universities that are not protecting the students.”

He called the demonstrations “an attack on a religious class” that have “spilled over to the streets of Los Angeles.”

Some college presidents have appeared before congressional committees, and the results have generated intense controversy.

After a December appearance, the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania resigned after making what were criticized as too-general answers to how they were dealing with antisemitism.

Last week, Minouche Shafik, president of Columbia University, testified before a House committee. Columbia has been in the spotlight as a center of anti-Israel protests. She’s been under fire from many students and liberal members of Congress for calling in police to clear an encampment.

Garvey reiterated his strong support for Israel at the press conference. “As allies there is no greater ally than Israel … we can’t back away,” he said. “For those who support a pro-Hamas demonstration…I say not on my leadership.”

Garvey is running against Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, also a strong supporter of Israel. He voted in the House for a bipartisan resolution condemning antisemitism on campuses.

Schiff also tweeted this week that “Jewish students should feel safe on campus. Period. That will never be the case if we allow situations like the one at Columbia — where antisemitic and hateful rhetoric is being loudly and proudly displayed — to be tolerated.”

_____

©2024 The Sacramento Bee. Visit sacbee.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.