Shai Davidai: I’m not afraid to speak up. I’m speaking up because I’m afraid.

Speech on the grounds of Columbia University, October 18, 2023. Transcript.

Shai Davidai is an assistant professor at Columbia University’s business school, and an Israeli national. He spoke before a small group of Columbia University students gathered for a candlelight campus vigil for the Israelis kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

(0:12)

I’m going to stand here. Because I want everyone to see where I’m standing.

I want everyone to see where we are.

Everyone, please take out your phones, because I want this message to get to every parent who sent their kids to Columbia University, and trusted their kids, and their children’s safety, with us. I want this message to get to every parent in America who sent their kids to NYU, to Harvard, to Stanford, to Berkeley.

And I want you to know one thing — we cannot protect your child. 

(1:05)

And I’m not saying this as a professor. I should introduce myself. My name is Shai Davidai. I am a professor at Columbia Business School. I am Israeli. 

But before all of that, I am a dad.

I have two beautiful children. I’m talking to you, I’m speaking to you as a dad. And I want you to know: We cannot protect your children from pro-terror student organizations. 

Because the president of Columbia University will not speak out against pro-terror student organizations. Because the president of Harvard University, because the president of Stanford, because the president of Berkeley, they will not speak out against pro-terror student organizations.

(2:01)

Last Saturday, fourteen U.S. citizens were kidnapped into Gaza, with 200 other Israeli, French, German, and other nationalities. Fourteen citizens of the U.S. are, right now, kidnapped in Gaza. And yet, the president of [Columbia] University is allowing — is giving her support to — pro-terror student organizations.

I have an amazing seven-year old son. Every night, before I tuck him to sleep, we read a chapter of Harry Potter. And yet, to the pro-terror student organizations at Columbia, my seven-year-old son is a legitimate target of resistance. Just because he is Israeli.

(3:03)

I have a two-year-old daughter. A feisty two-year-old daughter. She has two songs that are her favorite — Baby Shark, and Shake It Off by Taylor Swift.

To the pro-terror student organizations on campus, here — and at Harvard, and at NYU, and at Stanford, and at Berkeley, and at Northwestern — my two-year-old daughter is a legitimate target of resistance! 

That is what they are saying. You are allowed to murder and kidnap my two-year-old daughter. In the name of resistance. And none of the presidents of universities all around the country are willing to take a stand.

This is what cowards do. 

(3:57)

And I’ll name it now. President Minouche Shafik of Columbia University: You. Are. A. Coward.

VOICE: Coward!

DAVIDAI: Because if President Biden can come up and say, no, this is unacceptable! This is inhumane!

And if Eric Adams, the Mayor of New York City, is able to say, this is not O.K., then where are you, President Shafik, of Columbia University? We are waiting for you to eradicate all pro-terror student organizations from campus.

(4:38)

Last week, last week, we had thousands of students chanting pro-terror songs that are sung right now in Iraq, in Libya, in Yemen, in Afghanistan.

They were singing this not in Gaza, not in Afghanistan. Here! In New York City! And this is the school that you want to send your children to?

They were celebrating the rape of teenage girls, at a music festival, in the name of resistance!

(5:19)

They were celebrating this. And the president of the university is allowing these pro-terror student organizations to march on our campuses. 

They brought a building here […] the Center for Jewish Life. Had to go on lock-down. Not in Gaza, not in Tel Aviv. Here, in New York City.

Because of this quiet. This cowardice, of the president of NYU, of Columbia, of Harvard.

I am telling every parent in the United States. It does not matter if you are Jewish, or Christian, or Muslim, or Hindu, or Buddhist, or an atheist like myself. 

Rape is never ok.

VOICE: Right!

(6:14)

DAVIDAI: Not as an act of resistance. Not as an act of revenge. Rape is never ok.

And if my amazing two-year-old daughter was now 18 years old, I would never, never send her to Columbia. 

Not because it’s not a great institution. It’s an amazing institution.

But because I know that she will not be protected there. Because the president of the university allows pro-terrorists to march on campus.

We would never allow — never allow — the KKK to march on our campus. We would never allow a pro-ISIS demonstration on our campus.

(7:01)

Can you imagine, in the city that had to endure 9/11, the worst [terror] attack on American soil? Can you imagine that, here, we have pro-terror student organizations?

So what I want you to do now, is, I want you to go on social media. I want you to put this online. I want this to get to every parent, every concerned mom, every concerned dad, in and around the United States.

And I want you all, tomorrow morning, to call your kids’ college, your kids’ university, and ask them one simple question: Will you protect my child from pro-terror student organizations?

(7:58)

And if your kid is not yet in college, but you are a concerned parent, or a concerned grandparent, I want you to call your senator. Your representative in Congress. Your governor. Your mayor.

And I want you to ask them: Are the colleges in my city, in my state — who are funded by taxpayers’ money — are they harboring pro-terror student organizations?

Because kidnapping nine-month-old babies is never ok. 

Rape is never ok.

Murdering 89-year-old grandmothers, who have Alzheimer's and do not know what is going on. Shooting them in the head, executing them, is never, never, never ok.

I’m sorry I’m getting emotional. I’m only emotional because I am a parent.

(9:06)

People have asked me in the past few days, are you not afraid to speak up? You’re putting your job on the line.

You’ve got it all wrong. I’m not afraid to speak up. I’m speaking up because I’m afraid.

(9:22)

I am speaking up because I walked onto my own campus, the place that has employed me and is supposed to keep me safe. And I was shivering.

I am forty years old, and I was shivering to come to my own employment. Imagine not being able to go to your work, because your boss does not value your life. Because your boss supports pro-terror organizations.

Thank you very much.

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