White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates
issued a statement on Sunday acknowledging that American citizens have the “right to peaceful protest,” while adding that “calls for violence and physical intimidation” against the Jewish community are unacceptable.
In his
statement, Bates said:
While every American has the right to peaceful protest, calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly Antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous – they have absolutely no place on any college campus, or anywhere in the United States of America. And echoing the rhetoric of terrorist organizations especially in the wake of the worst massacre committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, is despicable. We condemn these statements in the strongest terms.
Bates’ statement comes as anti-Israel protests at various universities have
popped up over the course of the past few days. Several pro-Palestinian student groups at the University of North Carolina, Boston University, and the Ohio State University announced they would hold rallies and protests in
support of the encampment at Columbia University.
On early Wednesday morning, protesters reportedly set up an anti-Israel encampment on the lawn of Columbia University. On Thursday, several students, including
Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), were suspended from Barnard College over their involvement in the encampment.
More than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters
involved in the encampment, including Hirsi, were also arrested on Thursday.
Despite the arrests, protesters were recorded placing tents in the encampment on Sunday.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who has come out in support of Israel and criticized anti-Israel
protesters, wrote in a
post on X that he agreed “with the White House” labeling the protests as antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous.
“Add some tiki torches and it’s Charlottesville for these Jewish students,” Fetterman added, calling for Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to do her job “or resign.”