President Joe Biden has been facing criticism for his delayed response to the student protests at US universities and Israel’s offensive in Gaza. After a week of silence, he finally spoke out, defending the actions of the police and emphasizing the importance of maintaining order. In a televised speech from the White House, Biden declared that dissent is essential to democracy but should not lead to disorder.
Republicans seized on the protests as a political issue, with former President Donald Trump praising the New York Police for evicting pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University. Tensions escalated as protesters refused to leave camps, leading to clashes with police and calls for Biden to take action. However, Biden has been reluctant to get directly involved in the issue, while condemning anti-Semitism, he refrained from taking a firm stance on the protests. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the importance of distinguishing between free speech and illegal behavior.
Despite pressure from opposition party members like Kate Berner who dismissed their tactics as fear-mongering, Biden remained firm in his approach to the protests and continued to focus on maintaining order and upholding democratic values. As Republicans criticized Biden for his handling of the protests, his former campaign deputy communications director emphasized that it was important for politicians to balance free speech and public order in a democracy.
As tensions continue over this controversial issue, President Joe Biden is scheduled to deliver a commencement address at Morehouse University in Atlanta during which he will likely be addressing this issue again while highlighting other topics such as job creation or education reforms.
