Biden Affirms Demonstrators' Right to Peacefully Protest, Condemns Violence
US Pres. Joe Biden, making previously unscheduled remarks Thursday in the White House Roosevelt Room, said, ''There's the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos' when commenting about pro-Palestine protests that have occurred on college campuses across the country....
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Facts
- US Pres. Joe Biden, making previously unscheduled remarks Thursday in the White House Roosevelt Room, said, ''There's the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos' when commenting about pro-Palestine protests that have occurred on college campuses across the country.1
- At a time when many demonstrators have refused to leave the campus encampments they've built, and some schools are turning to police to clear them out, Biden called dissent 'essential for democracy' but he added it shouldn't 'lead to disorder.'2
- Biden also responded to questions to affirm there's no need for the National Guard to become involved in campus disputes, and that he hasn't changed his stance on the Hamas-Israel war in response to the protests.3
- Campus administrators are taking different approaches to the demonstrations, with police this week raiding an encampment at UCLA and breaking up a demonstration at Columbia University.4
- Biden's remarks come as Secretary of State Antony Blinken encouraged Hamas to accept the most recent cease-fire offer/hostage-release offer.5
- Republicans, who will be nominating former Pres. Donald Trump to be Biden's challenger in November's election, had called for the president to speak out. They have also announced efforts to investigate how campus leaders are handling the protests.6
Sources: 1USA Today, 2Associated Press, 3CBS, 4Al Jazeera, 5NBC and 6ABC News.
Narratives
- Republican narrative, as provided by Townhall. Biden's late comments on these havoc-wreaking demonstrators weren't strong enough. The president attacked pro-Trump 'MAGA' citizens with much more anger than he showed toward these protesters who don't back America's policies and have openly shown their disdain for him. This could very well cost him reelection, and the US can benefit from a stronger administration.
- Democratic narrative, as provided by Axios.com. Biden is doing what he does best — calming a chaotic situation. He knows he's the president for all Americans, and his comments show his sympathy for all sides of this debate as long as they abide by the law. In a tenuous situation, Biden is toeing the line as a peacemaker as well as anyone could.
