President Joe Biden finally broke his week-long silence on the student protests in United States universities and Israel’s offensive in Gaza, defending the actions of the police in a televised speech from the White House on Thursday. In his address, he emphasized the importance of maintaining order while acknowledging that dissent is crucial to democracy. He also stressed that it should never lead to disorder.
The protests have sparked increasing tension at colleges and universities, with some protesters refusing to disband their camps despite criticism and pressure from Republicans. Administrators have resorted to using police forces to forcibly evict them, leading to clashes that have drawn attention from politicians and the media. Despite this, Biden has stood firm in his refusal to change American policy towards the conflicts.
Former President Donald Trump has criticized Biden for his handling of the protests, applauding the actions of the police in dispersing protesters at Columbia University. Republicans have used the disorder on college campuses as a backdrop to attack Democrats in this election year, calling on Biden to denounce the protests and take a stronger stance against the unrest.
Biden’s reluctance to directly address the issue has drawn criticism from Republicans and the public alike. While he has condemned anti-Semitism, the White House has refrained from getting directly involved in the matter. Kate Berner, Biden’s former campaign deputy communications director, dismissed Republican tactics as fear-mongering and not based on reality. The White House has remained neutral on the issue, allowing universities to make their own decisions on how to handle the protests.
Despite growing unrest on college campuses, Biden is scheduled to visit Morehouse University in Atlanta on May 19th to deliver
