During unexpected remarks, President Joe Biden said that states should not seek to deploy the National Guard to help handle anti-Israel protests that have overtaken college campuses.
Across the country, anti-Israel protesters have set up encampments on college campuses, some have overtaken buildings, refused to comply with trespassing violations and replaced the American flag with the Palestinian flag. Biden addressed the protests for the first time in nine days, in unplanned remarks, condemning violent and unlawful protests, but adding that the National Guard shouldn’t intervene.
“Violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is. It’s against the law when violence occurs. Destroying property is not peaceful protest. It’s against the law. Vandalism. Trespassing. Breaking windows, Shutting down campuses. Forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations. None of this is a peaceful protest,” Biden said during his remarks.
