President Joe Biden on May 2 decried the violence stemming from pro-Palestinian protesters across American college campuses.
“Violent protest is not protected,” he said in an unscheduled speech from the White House, affirming his dedication to both the right to free speech and peaceful protests and the rule of law, adding that America is not a lawless country.
“Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law,” he said.
“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’s against the law.”
The remarks are the first time the president has spoken out on the issue since the protests escalated over the past few days.
Dissent, he said, is “essential to democracy,” but that dissent should not lead to chaos.
When asked by a reporter if he thinks the National Guard should intervene, he said: “No.”
He also took a moment to speak out against anti-Semitism, as well as Islamophobia.
“There should be no place on any campus, no place in America for anti-Semitism, or threats of violence against Jewish students,” he said.
“There is no place for hate speech, or violence of any kind, whether it’s anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, or discrimination against Arab Americans or Palestinian Americans.
“It’s simply wrong. There’s no place for racism in America. It’s all wrong. It’s not American.”
This is breaking and will be updated.
From The Epoch Times
