WASHINGTON — Congressman Tim Walberg is requesting a briefing from the mayor of Evanston, Illinois, following the release of committee documents tied to campus protests at Northwestern University.
Walberg, who chairs the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, alleges Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss refused to provide police support to clear a 2024 protest encampment that Walberg says involved antisemitic harassment and violence.
According to the committee, Northwestern officials wanted to make arrests in April of that year but lacked sufficient police support. Internal documents cited by the committee suggest the mayor declined assistance for political reasons.
Walberg said the encampment created safety concerns for Jewish students and criticized later characterizations of the protest as peaceful.
The committee is now seeking a briefing on how local law enforcement coordinates with colleges during incidents involving antisemitism.
Walberg said the information could factor into potential federal legislation addressing antisemitic discrimination on college campuses.