The occupation of a building of the University of Columbiain NYby demonstrators protesting against the war in Gaza has “an absolutely wrong approach,” said this Tuesday the White House.
President Joe Biden “believes that the forcible takeover of a building on a university campus has absolutely the wrong approach and is not an example of peaceful protests,” said the national security spokesperson. John Kirby.
Dozens of protesters occupied the building Hamilton Hall on the university grounds, the scene, like other higher education institutions, of protests against Israel and the links between universities and that country.
The president of the House of Representatives, Mike JohnsonRepublican of Louisianastated that the protests have taken an anti-Jewish turn with pamphlets and posters that recall the Nazi era and advocate the elimination of the state of Israel.
“If the Police are not able to control the situation, we need the National Guard,” Johnson said at a press conference.
Kirby maintained that “hate proclamations and hate symbols have no place in this country” and added that these protests are being closely watched in the White House and the Security Council.
«A small percentage of students should not be able to interrupt the academic experience, the legitimate study for the rest of the students»added the official.
Kirby indicated that there are no efforts underway to place the National Guard, which is normally under the command of each state government, under federal authority.
“We continue to believe in freedom of expression and the right to protest against the policies and in favor of the ideas that each person wants to protest”he added. “But it has to be done peacefully and without hurting anyone”. EFE (I)
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