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Patriots’ Robert Kraft halts support for alma mater, Columbia University, amid pro-Palestine protests
"I am deeply saddened at the virulent hate that continues to grow on campus and throughout our country."
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced Monday that he is halting support of his alma mater, Columbia University.
Kraft’s decision comes just five days after students at the New York City campus set up a pro-Palestine encampment, calling for the divestment of university funds from companies with ties to Israel.
“I am deeply saddened at the virulent hate that continues to grow on campus and throughout our country,” Kraft said in a social media statement. “I am no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff and I am not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken.”
The Patriots CEO and founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism has been an active alumnus since graduating in 1963. Seven years after he donated $3 million to kickstart the building of the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life in 2000, Columbia University named the Robert K. Kraft Field in his honor “for his extremely generous contributions.”
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In an interview Monday night with FOX News’ Sean Hannity, Kraft clarified that he will continue to support the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life, which has served “as a haven for professors and students who don’t feel safe.”
“I never thought I’d see what’s going on in America, what’s happening right now. It really pains me to see it,” Kraft said to Hannity. “We can’t have this intimidation that’s filtering through all these colleges and the hate continuing to grow and multiply the way it is.”
Kraft did not respond to Hannity’s question about what “corrective action” looks like; however in a separate appearance on CNN Monday night, he further pressed the idea of “accountability.”
“I believe in free speech, say whatever you want, but pay the consequences,” Kraft said to CNN’s Jake Tapper.
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