New England Patriots team owner Robert Kraft said Monday night that he “never thought” he would one day see such hatred and vitriol against Jewish people in the United States.
Kraft, who announced he was withdrawing his support for his alma mater Columbia University, appeared on Fox News Channel's “Hannity” to talk about his decision.
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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft attends warmups before the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 9, 2022. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“I never thought I would see in America what's happening right now. And it really hurts me to see,” Kraft said. “We have our vacation right now, it brings back memories of thousands of years ago when negative things happened, and the same thing is happening now in this great country that has provided so many opportunities to our families who came here as immigrants.”
“And we have to keep it open. We can't have this intimidation filtering through all these colleges and the hate.” [that continues] grow and multiply as it is.”
Kraft said it was “very sad” to see the hatred against Jews around the world.
Anti-Israel agitators build an encampment on the campus of Columbia University in New York, April 22, 2024. (Pierre Gerber)
Anti-Israel agitators build an encampment on the campus of Columbia University in New York, April 22, 2024. (Pierre Gerber)
PATRIOTS' ROBERT KRAFT GETS SUPPORT FOR COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AMID ANTISEMITIC VIOLENCE
“Look at America, we've done the research and it shows that 90 percent of the people in this country are good people. They just need to be educated, and we can't make them apathetic or misguided. We need to let them know. , and they must stand up and not be silent,” he added.
“It starts with Jews, but then all groups who feel marginalized, whether it's black people, Asian people, Hispanic people, gay people. It will have a real impact on the great fabric of this country, where People have the freedom to operate and follow the path they want to follow. And now hatred and intimidation are taking over.
“I just think that when I went to Colombia, it was a place where people listened, where [the] apathetic had compassion. And now we have teachers who, instead of teaching how to think, try to tell our young people what they should think. »
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft looks on before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on September 11, 2022. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
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He added that he still supports the Kraft Center, which “houses all aspects of Jewish life” at the university, according to the school’s website.
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