Biden Addresses Campus Protests: 'Violent Protest is Not Protected'
Summary from the AllSides News Team
President Joe Biden addressed ongoing campus protests over Israel’s campaign in Gaza on Thursday, emphasizing Americans’ rights to protest but denouncing violence and chaos.
For Context: Violent confrontations between pro-Palestine protesters, pro-Israel protesters, and police are increasing at colleges nationwide as school administrations request law enforcement assistance to clear tent encampments erected on campus property.
Details: Biden stated that the protests have not led him to reconsider his foreign policy decisions. He also rejected calls to send the National Guard to campuses experiencing unrest.
Key Quote: Bidens stated, “It is against the law when violence occurs. 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 graduations, none of this is a peaceful protest. Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people is not peaceful protest, it is against the law.”
How the Media Covered It: Coverage from the New York Post (Lean Right bias) labeled the pro-Palestine protests “pro-terror anarchy” and stated that Biden has “sustained criticism for his lack of public comments as chaos raged across the country.” Similarly, coverage from Axios (Lean Left bias) stated that Biden is “under tremendous political pressure as young Democrats and primary voters across key swing states have signaled opposition to his stance on Israel's war in Gaza.” Reuters (Center bias) stated that Biden “has walked a careful line of denouncing antisemitism while supporting young Americans' right to protest and trying to limit longer-term political damage.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Biden on campus protesters: No “right to cause chaos”President Biden defended students' right to protest peacefully during a speech Thursday, but condemned the "chaos" that has broken out on campuses nationwide amid protests against the Israel-Hamas war.
Why it matters: Biden is under tremendous political pressure as young Democrats and primary voters across key swing states have signaled opposition to his stance on Israel's war in Gaza.
When asked by a reporter, the president said he is not reconsidering U.S. policy.
Biden's Thursday remarks were his first public statements this week since the protests against the Israel-Hamas war...
From the Center
Biden breaks silence on college protests over Gaza conflictUnder mounting political pressure, U.S. President Joe Biden broke his silence on campus unrest over the war in Gaza on Thursday, saying Americans have the right to demonstrate but not to unleash violence.
"There is a right to protest, but not a right to cause chaos," Biden said in remarks at the White House.
With television images of campus unrest that have swept the country in recent days playing out on news networks, Biden has faced criticism of his handling of the situation. He had been leaving it largely up...
From the Right
Biden says ‘order must prevail’ in first public comments since riots at Columbia, UCLAPresident Biden broke 10 days of silence about pro-terror anarchy on college campuses Thursday, saying the US is not a “lawless country” and “order must prevail” while acknowledging the right to peaceful demonstrations — and rejecting calls to bring out the National Guard.
Biden, 81, spoke for three-and-a-half minutes in the White House Roosevelt Room after taking sustained criticism for his lack of public comments as chaos raged across the country.
“It is against the law when violence occurs. Destroying property is not a peaceful protest, it’s against the law. Vandalism, trespassing,...
AllSides Picks
May 16th, 2024
May 15th, 2024
May 14th, 2024