President Biden's full remarks on pro-Palestinian protests
President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the right to protest but insisted that 맥스카지노order must prevail맥스카지노 as college campuses across the country face unrest over the war in Gaza.
Read Biden's full remarks below, :
"Good morning. Before I head to North Carolina, I wanted to speak a few moments about what맥스카지노s going on on our college campuses here.
We맥스카지노ve all seen the images. And they put to the test two fundamental American principles.
The first is the right to free speech and for people to peacefully assemble and make their voices heard. The second is the rule of law. Both must be upheld.
We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent. The American people are heard. In fact, peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues.
But 맥스카지노 but neither are we a lawless country. We are a civil society, and order must prevail.
Throughout our history, we맥스카지노ve often faced moments like this because we are a big, diverse, free-thinking, and freedom-loving nation.
In moments like this, there are always those who rush in to score political points. But this isn맥스카지노t a moment for politics. It맥스카지노s a moment for clarity.
So, let me be clear. Peaceful protest in America 맥스카지노 violent protest is not protected; peaceful protest is. It맥스카지노s against the law when violence occurs.
Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It맥스카지노s against the law.
Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations 맥스카지노 none of this is a peaceful protest.
Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people is not peaceful protest. It맥스카지노s 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.
Look, it맥스카지노s basically a matter of fairness. It맥스카지노s a matter of what맥스카지노s right. There맥스카지노s the right to protest but not the right to cause chaos.
People have the right to get an education, the right to get a degree, the right to walk across the campus safely without fear of being attacked.
But let맥스카지노s be clear about this as well. There should be no place on any campus, no place in America for antisemitism or threats of violence against Jewish students. There is no place for hate speech or violence of any kind, whether it맥스카지노s antisemitism, Islamophobia, or discrimination against Arab Americans or Palestinian Americans.
It맥스카지노s simply wrong. There is no place for racism in America. It맥스카지노s all wrong. It맥스카지노s un-American.
I understand people have strong feelings and deep convictions. In America, we respect the right and protect the right for them to express that. But it doesn맥스카지노t mean anything goes. It needs to be done without violence, without destruction, without hate, and within the law.
You know, make no mistake: As President, I will always defend free speech. And I will always be just as strong in standing up for the rule of law.
That맥스카지노s my responsibility to you, the American people, and my obligation to the Constitution.
Thank you very much."