The President made this known on Thursday while reacting to protests which were held in some college campuses for the first time in over a week, as he navigated the politically thorny issue threatening to impair his reelection chances.
The United States President, Joe Biden, has condemned the sporadic violence and chaotic gestures demonstrated by some pro-Palestinians in the country.
The President made this known on Thursday while reacting to protests which were held in some college campuses for the first time in over a week, as he navigated the politically thorny issue threatening to impair his reelection chances.
He said he supported “peaceful protest,” but warned “violent protest is not protected” under the law.
“Peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues,” Biden added.
He continued: “We are a civil society, and order must prevail,” while delivering brief remarks from the White House on Thursday on the campus protests that had devolved into scenes of violence and arrests over the past week.
When questioned by reporters, Biden also stated that he does not believe the National Guard should be called in to intervene in the protests, as some Republicans have urged, and that he has no intentions to change his policies on the Israel-Hamas conflict in response to the rallies.
Biden said “Destroying property is against the law,” adding that “vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations none of this is a peaceful protest.”
Biden made the comments after hundreds have been arrested on college campuses and police raided a building at Columbia University being occupied by pro-Palestinian students earlier this week.
Up until Thursday, Biden had been virtually silent on the protests in public, but said during an Earth Day event last Monday he “condemn[s] antisemitic protests” and also “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”
Some of Biden’s allies worry his unwavering support for Israel in its war with Hamas risks losing young voters, while his political adversaries, including former President Donald Trump, have placed blame on him for the protests, accusing him of not taking a firm enough stance against them or in support of Israel.