President Biden has strongly condemned the anti-Semitic protests that have taken place on college campuses across the country, including at Columbia University, while simultaneously emphasizing the need to understand the plight of the Palestinians.
His remarks come as Columbia University temporarily shifted to virtual classes amidst a wave of protests related to the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Student-led protest encampments have garnered national attention, with some Jewish students expressing feelings of insecurity due to the demonstrations.
“I condemn the anti-Semitic protests,” Biden said in response to questions from reporters on Monday. “That’s why I have set up a program to deal with that. I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik denounced the escalating tensions on campus and requested assistance from the New York Police Department, which resulted in the arrest of approximately 100 students last week.
“There is a terrible conflict raging in the Middle East with devastating human consequences,” Shafik said. “I understand that many are experiencing deep moral distress and want Columbia to help alleviate this by taking action. We should be having serious conversations about how Columbia can contribute.”
The protests at Columbia have primarily focused on demanding that the university divest “all economic and academic stakes in Israel” due to its military operations in Gaza. In the wake of the demonstrations at Columbia, similar protests have erupted at other universities such as Tulane University, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Tensions escalated at Columbia when President Shafik requested NYPD intervention against the protesters, whom Chief of Patrol John Chell later described as “peaceful.”
However, President Biden declined to comment on whether Shafik should step down.
“I’ll have to find out more about it,” he said.
Biden made his remarks while speaking at an Earth Day event at Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia. He was joined by Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, all of whom are prominent advocates for environmental action and have been outspoken critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Representative Ocasio-Cortez praised student demonstrators who have advocated for environmental justice, drawing parallels between their efforts and those of the students protesting in support of Gaza.
“It is especially important that we remember the power of young people shaping this country today, of all days, as we once again witness the leadership of those peaceful, student-led protests on campuses like Columbia, Yale, Berkeley,” she said.
President Biden, for his part, expressed admiration for Representative Ocasio-Cortez, a frequent critic and collaborator of his, not on the topic of student protests but on environmental issues.
“I learned a long time ago, listen to that lady,” he said.
