Freedom of speech and the rule of law should be respected at US university protests over the war in Gaza, US President Joe Biden said.
“We are not an authoritarian state that silences people and suppresses dissent. But we are not an anarchic country either. We are a civil society. And order must prevail,” said the American president.
In response to a reporter’s question, Biden said the protests on college campuses had not forced him to reconsider his Middle East policy.
American citizens have a right to be heard, but the law must be followed, he insisted. Destroying property, threatening other people is not a peaceful protest, he continued, stressing that there is the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos.
Biden also emphasized that anti-Semitism has no place either in universities or in America.
When asked if the National Guard should intervene to quell the protests, he said no.
Tune in as I deliver remarks.
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 2, 2024
University crisis likely to cost Biden re-election
Seven months before the presidential election, it is the events in the American universities that deeply worry the staff of the Democrats about the consequences that they may have on the re-election of Biden.
Things are getting marginally better for President Biden given that the much-needed, educated young people are drifting away from his voter pool.
That is, students protesting at universities, which does not mean they will turn Republican in the next election, it means they will stay home and not vote, which will essentially have the same effect.
Reinforcement and possibly the election of Trump, who, let’s remember, is much tougher both on the subject of the protesters and on the reason for these protests in the management of the crisis in Gaza.
So the problem that has arisen is purely a Democratic problem as Republican voters are—almost without exception—in favor of a tough police stance on campuses and clearly in favor of Israel.
Analysts estimate that if something does not change – and precisely because every vote will count in November – it is very likely that the current crisis in universities will cost Biden the presidency.
Occupy end at UCLA
At about 4 am in Los Angeles, a new major police operation began to remove the protesters who have occupied one of the world’s most famous universities, UCLA.
By the time daylight broke the occupation of UCLA was over. Only rubble remains of the “little village” of tents, gazebos and protest signs against Israel’s war on Gaza.
Discarded tents and sleeping bags are strewn across the school’s Royce Quad, which protesters had occupied for more than a week.
The chronicle
The police after warning the protesters used flash and tear gas against them. The police made several arrests and broke up the barricades that had been set up.
It had been preceded by an ultimatum from the authorities calling in vain for the demonstrators to leave.
The tension started yesterday (01/05/2024) when pro-Israel protesters clashed on campus with squatters.
Royce Hall was evacuated first
Royce Hall, one of the main protest sites, was the first to be cleared by the police. The place was vandalized by the protesters and its evacuation was considered important because it was also a point of cover and escape for the protesters.
LA Police officers are now moving into the pro-Palestinian encampment on the UCLA campus to enforce the dispersal order. Around 200 students have been told they face arrest if they don’t move
Live updates ➡️
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 2, 2024
The #UCLA ‘protestors’ now chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ on campus.
Perfectly normal for mollycoddled middle class kids at Uni these days… 🙄
We are raising a generation of ideologically brainwashed individuals who hate their own countries and culture.@EndWokeness @libsoftiktok pic.twitter.com/RuylzTae98
— Ed Reid (@CorryReid) May 2, 2024
NEW: Law enforcement actively arresting protestors at #UCLA pic.twitter.com/KrqaWFYDrX
— Logan Hall (@LoganHallNews) May 2, 2024
UCLA: Police breach encampment, start to detain protestors
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 2, 2024
Riot Police started using Bear Spray along with Tear Gas on the protestors of UCLA. pic.twitter.com/ls8QL9wtG6
— War Watch (@WarWatchs) May 2, 2024
All classes at UCLA will be online only today and tomorrow, the university announced. Employees are also being asked to work remotely as the university told everyone to avoid the area of Dickson Court and Plaza.
UCLA BREAKING:
CHP RIOT POLICE HAVE BROKEN THROUGH, POLICE HAVE BREACHED THE ENCAMPMENT. PEOPLE BEING DETAINED#UCLA #uclaprotests #California #BREAKING
— News Update (@ChaudharyParvez) May 2, 2024
Photos: Reuters
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#Biden #protests #universities #Order #prevail
