2024-05-02 16:06:00
Biden’s first speech regarding university protests… ‘Order comes first’ ‘Threatening people and sowing fear…unlawful act’
Regarding the anti-Gaza protests spreading on college campuses across the country, US President Joe Biden announced on the 2nd (local time) that violent protests are not protected. This can be interpreted as a warning message that we will not stand idly by if protesters continue to destroy property or occupy facilities.
President Biden today delivered remarks at the White House on protests against the war in Gaza and on college campuses, saying, “Peaceful protests are the best tradition for Americans to answer important questions, but we we are not a lawless country.” and “We are a civil society and order comes first.” “It has to happen,” he said.
President Biden said, “Throughout history, we have often experienced moments like this because we are a large, diverse, free-thinking, freedom-loving nation,” adding, “In these moments – there are always those who rush to obtain political gains. , and now “This is not the time to play politics,” he criticized.
It seems to have been emphasized that the current university protests are not carried out with pure intentions.
President Biden said, “Violent protests are not protected, peaceful protests are protected” and “Violent protests violate the law and violence occurs.” Destruction of property does not constitute peaceful protest and is against the law,” he said.
“Any action that causes vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, closing campus, or canceling classes or graduation ceremonies is not peaceful protest,” he said. “Intimidating, scaring people and spreading fear is not peaceful protest.” “It’s against the law,” he repeated.
“Differences of opinion are essential in a democracy, but they should not lead to disorder or infringe on the rights of other students to complete the semester and graduate,” he said. “It’s fundamentally about fairness and goodness.” “You have the right to protest, but you do not have the right to cause chaos,” he argued.
Additionally, President Biden said, “There should be no anti-Semitism, threats or violence against Jewish students on any campus or in any location in the United States. “Hate speech or any form of violence, whether anti-Semitism or Islamophobia, must not be tolerated,” he warned.
However, when asked if he thought a National Guard response was necessary, President Biden responded “no.” When asked if he might reconsider his Middle East policy, he replied “no.”
This is the first time President Biden has delivered a separate speech regarding the anti-war protests at the college. The stance also comes a week after calling the incident an “anti-Semitic demonstration” on the 24th of last month and declaring: “These are people who don’t understand what is happening in Palestine.”
This speech is interpreted as being aware of the Republican Party’s attacks on President Biden for remaining silent on the protests. As protests at universities intensified, there was criticism that President Biden’s response was insufficient, particularly from Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and the Speaker of the House of Representatives from the United States, Mike Johnson (Louisiana).
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