Bill Ayers’ University of Chicago Visit Sparks Controversy Amidst Nationwide Anti-Israel Protests and Campus Crackdown

Fox News’ Lawrence Jones encountered an anti-Israel protester near Columbia University as part of protests sweeping through U.S campuses this week. However, what emerged at another institution was a retired professor with links to former President Barack Obama and far-left militant activism history visiting an encampment on the Main Quadrangle or “Quad” of the University of Chicago approximately seven hours after its formation. The ex-lecturer, Bill Ayers, cofounded the domestic terrorist group Weather Underground in the 1960s and ’70s that aimed to overthrow the US government via violent methods including bombings in cities like New York City and Washington DC. While he was once hunted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in these acts, charges against him were later dropped due to allegedly unlawful tactics used during investigations. Ayers’ relationship with Obama became a contentious issue during the latter’s 2008 presidential campaign following reports that claimed they both attended events hosted at Ayers’ house in the past; although claims of their closeness have been contested by some media outlets and Obama himself. The University of Chicago encampment, part of nationwide demonstrations against Israel since last week, ended up drawing controversy because Ayer’s was there while campus police forcibly evicted similar gatherings at other universities such as Columbia, Harvard and Yale. Students refusing to leave the latter institutions were suspended by administrators on Monday which led to a riot inside an academic building used by top university officials including deans.