Biden condemns antisemitism at anti-Israel campus protests, says pressure won’t make him reconsider his policy in the region
US president underscores that protesters have no right to cause ‘chaos’ but noted he won’t send in the National Guard
For the first time, U.S. President Joe Biden extensively addressed the wave of anti-Israel protests unfolding across American universities and college campuses, saying, “There's the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos.”
The president delivered remarks from the White House on Thursday after police in New York and Los Angeles cracked down on student encampments at Columbia University and UCLA, arresting hundreds of protesters.
"We've all seen images and they put to the test two fundamental American principles," Biden said. "The first is the right to free speech and for people to peacefully assemble and make their voices heard. The second is rule of law. Both must be upheld."
The president underscored that while “dissent is essential in democracy” it must never lead to “disorder.”
He added that the United States is a “civil society” in which “order must prevail.”
Biden further noted that “violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is.”
“Destroying property is not a peaceful protest – it’s against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduation – none of this is a peaceful protest,” he said. “Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people – is not a peaceful protest.”
The president strongly condemned the display of antisemitism in some of the protests, emphasizing there is no place for the hatred of the Jewish people or hate speech of any kind in America.
When asked by a journalist if the protests have made him reconsider his policies in the Middle East, Biden replied, “No.”
The American president previously expressed his support for Israel’s right to defend itself following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone assault. He urged Israel to make additional efforts to elevate the civilian suffering in Gaza by facilitating the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump spoke about the protests at a presidential campaign rally in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
"To every college president, I say remove the encampments immediately, vanquish the radicals, and take back our campuses for all of the normal students who want a safe place from which to learn," Trump said.
He praised the police efforts, particularly in New York, adding: "The police came in and in exactly two hours, everything was over. It was a beautiful thing to watch. New York's finest."
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The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
