Biden says "order must prevail" on college campuses, but National Guard should not intervene in protests
Source: CBS News
Updated on: May 2, 2024 / 11:34 AM EDT
President Biden on Thursday said "order must prevail" on college campuses, as some of the pro-Palestinian protests have turned violent, insisting it's his responsibility to protect the "rule of law" as much as freedom of expression. But Mr. Biden told reporters Thursday that "no," the National Guard should not intervene on college campuses. He also said the protests do not change his position and policies toward the Hamas-Israel war.
The president's brief remarks come as pro-Palestinian protests have been held at college campuses nationwide, resulting in police breaking up encampments at some schools and arrests. Over 100 people were arrested on Wednesday night at the University of California, Los Angeles, after hundreds of protesters defied police orders to leave and about 24 hours after counter-protesters attacked the tent encampment on the campus. The chaotic night at UCLA came after arrests in New York City at Columbia University and City College. Some institutions have canceled in-person commencement ceremonies due to the protests.
"Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations — none of this is a peaceful protest," the president said from the White House's Roosevelt Room. "Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people is not a peaceful protest. It's against the law.
Dissent is essential to democracy, but dissent must never lead to disorder or to denying the rights of others so students can finish the semester and their college education." The president said "dissent is essential to democracy," but that dissent must not turn into chaos and violence.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-campus-protests-arrests-encampments-ucla-columbia-city-college/
= new reply since forum marked as read
are certainly interpreting my statements much differently than they were meant.
And since I probably won't change your mind and don't know you ,nor you me, such is life. 
It is amazing to see the double standard among some here.
It's obvious due to WHAT is being protested. 
Last edited Thu May 2, 2024, 02:18 PM - Edit history (1)
What these anarchist idiots did was disgusting. Look at all the "River to the Sea" graffiti. That is anti-semitic hate speech. And it is midterms at UCLA right now. Powell Library, which would normally be packed with students studying right now, is trashed and not usuable.
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/ucla-campus-trashed-after-police-dismantle-encusable.
When has this sort of senseless distruction EVER been ok with us? What "double standard" are you talking about?
which is what a hell of a lot of us have ourselves engaged in.
Other hand - I think there's a fairly large voice (including apparently Biden) that view the push beyond legal activities (to include deliberate damage, physical confrontation, trespass and occupation) - with real question as to whether it remains 'peaceful protest'. Quite certainly it remains illegal - and deserves sanction.
(which is something else that many seem to forget about in terms of Vietnam war, etc. - a whole lot of people did get arrested, and in many cases not exactly gently. in many ways we're doing a much better job today.)
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