FALCON POWERS – President Joe Biden stated on Thursday that the destruction of public property is not a form of peaceful protest, emphasizing that there is a right to protest but not a right to incite chaos.
In his speech regarding the ongoing protests at American universities demanding an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, Biden stated, “We are not in a place that does not listen to the voice of the American people, and our country is governed by the rule of law… College protests put the right to expression and the rule of law at stake, and we must uphold both.”
He added, “There is no place on any university campus for hate speech and anti-Semitism… There is no place in the United States for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and violent rhetoric.”
Biden further emphasized, “Protests should take place without violence, destruction, or hatred, within the framework of the law. The protests have not compelled me to reconsider my policies in the region.” He stressed the need to “respect people’s feelings and protect their right to express them, but it must be done without violence and hatred,” adding, “Students have the right to learn and move safely on campus without fear of attack.”
