President Joe Biden said he condemns both the “antisemitic protests” taking place at college campuses as well as those who aren’t understanding of “what’s going on with the Palestinians.”
Biden spoke to reporters following Earth Day remarks delivered at Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia, alongside progressive lawmakers Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
“Mr. President, what’s your message to the protesters? Do you condemn the antisemitic protests on college campuses?” reporters asked the president after his speech Monday afternoon.
The tensions around on-campus protests and encampments by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including at Columbia and Yale University, have recently reached fever pitch — even prompting classes at Columbia to go virtual on Monday. Several New York lawmakers also visited the Manhattan campus in solidarity with Jewish students who have felt threatened or intimidated at school.
“I condemn the antisemitic protests,” Biden replied to the reporters. “That’s why I set up a program to deal with that.”
However, the president added: “I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”
