GOP Sen. Cotton calls on Biden to break up protests at Columbia University

Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton on Monday called on President Joe Biden to disperse the ongoing pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University.

Supporters of Palestine have staged large-scale protests at the school for days, with police arresting more than 100 participants on Thursday. University President Minouche Shafik on Monday morning announced that classes would be moved online.

"The nascent pogroms at Columbia have to stop TODAY, before our Jewish brethren sit for Passover Seder tonight. If Eric Adams won’t send the NYPD and Kathy Hochul won’t send the National Guard, Joe Biden has a duty to take charge and break up these mobs," Cotton posted on X.

Cotton previously made headlines in 2020 by calling on the National Guard to disperse demonstrations following the death of George Floyd in a New York Times op-ed entitled "Send in the Troops."

His calls for law enforcement intervention at Columbia follow similar remarks from former President Donald Trump, who suggested on Monday that some of the police surrounding the courthouse in his criminal trial ought to be sent to deal with the demonstrations.

"The Palestinian Protests at Columbia University have CLOSED THE COLLEGE DOWN. But the area surrounding the Courthouse, in Downtown Manhattan, is closed up like a drum, with New York City’s Finest (Police) all over the place," he said. "Why not send some to Columbia to protect Jewish Students, and others. The University would then not have to Shut Down. Republicans want the right to protest in front of the Courthouse, like everyone else!"

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.