The White House on Wednesday reprimanded the presidents of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for their responses the day before during a hearing on anti-Semitism in the House of Commons. representatives.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) asked all presidents whether calling for the genocide of Jewish people would be considered harassment under their campus policy.
None of the trio responded directly to the question, saying it would need to be investigated by the school or that it would depend on the context and pervasiveness of the calls.
“It is unbelievable that this needs to be said: Calls for genocide are monstrous and contrary to everything we stand for as a country,” said White House spokesman Andrew Bates.
“Any statement advocating the systematic murder of Jews is dangerous and revolting – and we should all strongly oppose it, alongside human dignity and the most fundamental values that unite us as Americans,” Bates added.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said later Wednesday that calls for genocide were “unacceptable” and “despicable,” adding that if anyone who worked in the administration made such comments they would be reported.
“Statements that advocate the systemic murder of Jews are appalling and we should all oppose them,” she said. “I shouldn’t have to say that on the podium.”
Schools faced widespread negative reactions for comments, with Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley threatening to strip schools of tax-exempt status.
Harvard attempted to backtrack with a new statement from President Claudine Gay clarifying its position on the issue.
“Some have confused the right to free speech with the idea that Harvard tolerates calls for violence against Jewish students. Let us be clear: calls for violence or genocide against the Jewish community, or against any religious or ethnic group, are despicable, they have no place at Harvard, and those who threaten our Jewish students will be held accountable,” Gay said.
The Hill has reached out to UPenn and MIT for comment.
—Alex Gangitano contributed. Updated at 4:07 p.m.
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