US President Biden broke his silence on Thursday with a public statement addressing the recent surge of protests on American college campuses regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza. In his remarks, delivered from the White House, he strongly condemned any violence and antisemitism stemming from these protests while defending the right to peaceful expression.
In a direct televised address, Mr. Biden responded to the intense campus demonstrations by affirming the right to protest but criticized those whose actions disrupt campus safety. “There’s the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of safety and education free from fear. He underscored that antisemitism is absolutely unacceptable in America.
His comments followed reports of escalating tensions at universities, including police interventions at the University of California, Los Angeles, where officers in riot gear arrested around 200 people at a protest camp. Similar actions were taken at Portland State University in Oregon, where officers cleared demonstrators from a library.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina labeled the rise in antisemitism on campuses a critical issue, criticizing university leaders for not adequately protecting Jewish students from violence and harassment.
Biden reiterated his commitment to free speech, including for those who disagree with his stance on Israel. He clarified, however, that there should be no tolerance for antisemitism, threats against Jewish students, or any form of hate speech and violence, whether it be Islamophobia or discrimination against Arab Americans or Palestinian Americans.
Concluding his statement, Biden rejected the idea of deploying the National Guard to campuses, stating simply, “No,” when asked about it by reporters. He also confirmed that these protests would not prompt a change in his Middle East policy.
