New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has taken out a full-page ad in several newspapers on Thursday to criticize anti-Israel protests.
In the ad, which can be seen in full below, Kraft calls for “empathy” and said he was “saddened” to see what has been happening on campus at his alma mater, Columbia, and other schools across the country.
“I believe political issues can be, and most importantly, should be debated. They should be debated vigorously,” the ad says. “But vicious hate speech and physical intimidation, preventing others from feeling safe, pursuing their studies, or having their voices heard is completely unacceptable.”
Kraft, who recently pulled his financial support from Columbia due to the on-campus protests, called out the “leadership and faculty of so many of our leading academic institutions” for failing their students.
“Shouting vile, hate filled labels at students while hiding behind masks is not free speech—it is cowardice,” Kraft said. “Instead of colleges and universities teaching the core principles of free speech and debate our country was founded on, they are emboldening hate that is tearing their campuses, and our youth apart.”
FCAS Founder Robert Kraft is sharing this message as a full-page ad in major newspapers this week across the United States to address ongoing antisemitism on college campuses. #StandUpToJewishHate #🟦 pic.twitter.com/tcbobgUZRR
— Stand Up to Jewish Hate #🟦 (@StandUp2JewHate) May 2, 2024
Kraft, 82, who is Jewish, was part of a Super Bowl ad back in February urging people to “stand up to Jewish hate.”
Kraft also previously launched a $25 million campaign to fight antisemitism in March 2023.