Biden addresses college protests

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – President Joe Biden made his first formal comments on the college protests from the White House Thursday.  It comes more than a week after he first addressed them as the scale of the protests escalated across the country.

President Biden denounced violent protests over the war in Gaza but said he does not support sending in the National Guard to campuses.

After a tense morning at UCLA and under pressure, the president made a surprise address on the protests sweeping the nation.

“We are a civil society, and order must prevail,” Biden said.

President Biden said students have the right to peacefully protest.

“Trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations, none of this is a peaceful protest,” he said.

Police are arresting protestors and clearing encampments as fights break out on some campuses.

Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt said the president’s comments come too late.

“It’s despicable it took him a week to start talking about this,” said Schmitt.

Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) says he questions if legislation will help.

“These protesters don’t abide by the laws that exist, I don’t know what passing new laws will do,” Cornyn said.

However, Congress is trying to pass new laws.

Congressman Mike Lawler’s (R-N.Y.) “Antisemitism Awareness Act” passed the House Wednesday.

“This a big win for Jewish Americans,” Lawler said.

The bill would expand the definition of antisemitism in anti-discrimination laws.

Some lawmakers say it will stifle free speech.

It now heads to the Senate.

“It’s time for Senator Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the history of the United States, to act,” Lawler said.

Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has not yet said if he’ll bring up the bill but some of his colleagues are pushing for a vote.

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