An event on the Princeton University campus Monday night featuring former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett ended early when protesters interrupted at various points and a fire alarm was set off, prompting those in the room to break out into spontaneous song.
The event hosted by the university’s Center of Jewish Life (CJL) in 10 McCosh Hall saw protesters shouting down Bennett before walking out, as well as a disruption by an individual who doesn’t appear to have an affiliation with Princeton, school officials said.
Princeton sophomore Max Meyer, who attended the event, called on university administrators to hold the students who participated in the protest accountable.
“As a sophomore, last night was the first time that I’ve seen a speaker event fully shut down by a student group-led protest,” Meyer told Fox News Digital. “Anti-Israel agitators committed criminal acts in a concerted assault on the free speech of an invited guest at our university.”
Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber told Fox News Digital he was “appalled” at reports of antisemitic language used during Bennett’s visit. (Getty Images)
“Such behavior is reprehensible and intolerable. The University is investigating and will pursue disciplinary measures as appropriate, to the extent any members of the Princeton University community are implicated,” he said.
“I am also sorry the event was periodically disrupted by protesters inside McCosh Hall. We know that at least one disruptor inside the event was not a member of our community and we are taking action against him,” Eisgruber added. “I am grateful to Rabbi Steinlauf, Rabbi Dounn, Rabbi Webb, and the CJL staff for their efforts in ensuring much of the event could continue. Mr. Bennett, like all speakers on our campus, had every right to be heard without disruption and to be treated with dignity. I have expressed my regrets personally to Mr. Bennett and thanked him for visiting our campus.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the CJL.
Meyers called on the university to better enforce free speech rules on campus to ensure all sides can be heard.
“The university has not done enough to enforce its own time, place, and manner restrictions on speech, which exist for the exclusive purpose of protecting the free speech of those whose voices might not be the loudest,” he said. “I think what we saw last night was a dereliction of the university’s duty to ensure the free speech of those who follow the rules and the law.”
“I am grateful that President Eisgruber has answered our call for the University to apologize to Prime Minister Bennett for having failed to provide an open forum for him to share his insights,” he added.
