"Rep. Tim Walberg, chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, wants to have a briefing with the mayor of Evanston, Ill., regarding his decision not to help dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment at Northwestern University in April 2024. Walberg, a Republican, requested the briefing in a Jan. 28 letter to Mayor Daniel Biss, which included 13 pages of communications among then-Northwestern president Michael Schill and university trustees as well as between Schill and Biss."
"At multiple points, Schill discusses his intention to arrest protesters but adds that there aren't enough campus police officers to do so. Later, Schill says that a trustee, Michael Sacks, believed the mayor wouldn't provide additional police support and would "tell folks to shore up his progressive credentials." In a record of a different conversation, Sacks wrote, "I know Biss well. If the wind blows in the wrong way he will throw you under the bus. No hesitation.""
"Schill previously told the House committee that Biss declined to provide Evanston police officers to clear the encampments despite a mutual aid agreement between the city and Northwestern. "He said, 'You know, you can me sue me if you want,'" Schill said, according to a transcript released by the House committee. Walberg accused Biss, a Democrat who is running for Congress, of failing to protect Jewish students at Northwestern."
Rep. Tim Walberg requested a briefing with Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss about Biss's decision not to help dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment at Northwestern University in April 2024. The Jan. 28 letter included 13 pages of communications among then-Northwestern president Michael Schill, university trustees, and Biss. Schill wrote that he intended to arrest protesters but lacked enough campus police officers. Trustee Michael Sacks wrote that he believed Biss would not provide additional police support and would "tell folks to shore up his progressive credentials." Schill told the House committee that Biss declined to provide Evanston police despite a mutual aid agreement. Walberg accused Biss of failing to protect Jewish students and said the briefing could inform possible legislation addressing antisemitic discrimination. Biss defended his decision, denied political motive, and called Walberg's letter a "dishonest political attack."
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