Joe Biden on pro-Gaza protests in colleges: ‘Right to protest, not cause chaos’

US President Joe Biden said people had the right to protest but not to indulge in chaos and violence, in what were his first remarks, since massive protests swept the country’s universities and colleges earlier this month over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Speaking at a press conference at the White House, Biden underlined that while peaceful dissent was a critical element in a democracy, vandalism would not be tolerated.

“Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancelling of classes and graduations -none of this is a peaceful protest,” he said.

The 82-year-old president, who is seeking re-election in November, said the US was not an authoritarian country that clamped down on dissent and asserted that “order must prevail”.

“Dissent is essential to democracy, but dissent must never lead to disorder or denying the rights of others, so students can’t finish the semester and college education,” he said.

Asked if state governors should call in National Guard soldiers to restore order if required, Biden replied, “No.”

Since April 18, massive pro-Palestine protests rocked Columbia University and spread to other universities, with students setting up tent encampments, expressing opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza following the Hamas carnage on October 7. They are also demanding schools divest from companies that support Israel’s government.

Most of these protests have been cracked down upon by police and more than 1,000 students have been arrested. The Biden administration has been facing criticism from Republicans over the handling of the situation.

Responding to another query, Biden said the campus unrest had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.

The US, while voicing its support for Israel in its war in Gaza, has asked the Jewish state to scale down its operations in the wake of high civilian casualties. It is also apprehensive over Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah, where over a million Gazans, who fled from other parts of the Strip during the war, are camping there.

So far, more than 35,000 people have been killed in the war in Gaza, which is about to enter its seventh month.

(with inputs from Reuters)