On Saturday night, April 20, Jewish students at Columbia University joined together to protest antisemitism. According to witnesses, they carried American and Israeli flags and sang “One Day” by Matisyahu, yearning for peace. They were met by counter-protesters who hurled hate speech at them and called for violence against Jews and Israel. This tidal wave of Jew hatred continued into Sunday with videos of attacks on Jewish students surfacing on social media.

Freedom of speech has crossed a redline at Columbia University and other university campuses across this country. We, as leaders of all faiths, demand that Jewish students feel safe and protected in this country.

History proves that when Jews no longer feel safe in a society, that society is no longer safe. We call upon Columbia University to ensure a safe and secure environment for Jewish students and Zionist students of all religious backgrounds. We call on all law enforcement to pay greater attention to the dangerous rhetoric and menacing behavior of the protests against Israel and Jews sweeping across this country before it is too late.

American Jews are not alone. We stand among friends and allies from all communities in our desire to restore sanity, safety, and security to our streets here in America. On this eve of Passover, a holiday that celebrates the Israelite liberation from slavery to freedom, we demand safety and security for Jews in America. Psalm 133 teaches us, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” On behalf of each of our communities and organizations, we can no longer stand idly by as the psalmist’s dream becomes impossible for Jewish students.