President Biden breaks silence on campus unrest: 'Violent protest is not protected'

WASHINGTON ― President Joe Biden condemned violence, destruction and antisemitism on college campuses while defending the right for pro-Palestinian protesters to peacefully demonstrate in his first public address on this week's unrest on college campuses.

Biden, in previously unscheduled remarks Thursday from the White House Roosevelt Room, sought to strike a balance on the campus chaos, calling peaceful protest "in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues" but making clear "violent protest is not protected."

"Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It's against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancelation of classes and graduations, none of this is a peaceful protest," Biden said. "Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people is not peaceful protest."

More: Columbia suspends protesting students; demonstrators take over university building: Updates

Biden had previously stayed silent on student protests that have erupted over Israel's war in Gaza. Biden's response has been made complicated by his reelection campaign as he looks to unify the Democratic coalition.

"We're a civil society and order must prevail," Biden said. "There’s the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos."

Biden's steadfast backing of Israel's war against Hamas puts him at odds with many young progressive voters in his race against former President Donald Trump. Yet the scenes of violence on college campuses have opened new lines of attack by Trump and Republicans seeking to tie the chaos to Biden.

"In moments like this, there are always those who rush in to score political points," Biden said, "but this isn't a moment for politics, it's a moment for clarity."

Trump has taunted Biden about the protests for days, calling Biden "nowhere to be found" amid the unrest. But White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre rejected any notion that criticism from Trump prompted Biden's remarks.

"When it comes to something like this, he doesn't need to follow anyone," Jean-Pierre said.

Hundreds of protesters at college campuses across the country have been arrested this week during the wave of demonstrations. Police in riot gear arrested 132 people at UCLA in Los Angeles Wednesday night, a day after New York police arrested more than 300 individuals at Columbia University and City College.

More: Stay out or say more? President Biden faces lose-lose proposition with college protests

"We all see the images, and they put to the test two fundamental American principles," Biden said. "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 last time Biden had spoken publicly about the protests was to reporters on April 22, several days before police made mass arrests at Columbia University, UCLA and other colleges where students formed encampments or took over academic buildings.

Asked by a reporter whether the protests have forced him to reconsider his policy on Israel, Biden responded, “No.”

Biden also said he doesn’t believe the National Guard needs to intervene in protests like some Republicans have demanded.

In his remarks, Biden reiterated that he condemns antisemitism that has surfaced at some protests, saying "there should be no place in any campus, no place in America for antisemitism or threats of violence against Jewish students."

"It's simply wrong," Biden said.

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden speaks out on campus unrest: 'Violent protest is not protected'