Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic Representative from New York, commended the “peaceful” anti-Israel demonstrators who have been causing disruptions on Ivy League campuses. The protests, sparked by the Israel-Hamas conflict, have resulted in numerous arrests and confrontations between protesters and authorities. Yale University saw over 40 pro-Palestinian protesters being arrested on Sunday for refusing to leave their encampment, while Columbia University witnessed the arrest of more than 100 individuals during a demonstration on Thursday, as reported by the New York Post.
“It is especially important that we remember the power of young people shaping this country today, of all days, as we once again witness the leadership of those peaceful, student-led protests on campuses like Columbia, Yale, Berkeley and many others,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
President Joe Biden condemned the anti-Semitic protests, which have caused Jewish students to fear for their safety due to the chanting of anti-Semitic slogans, while Ocasio-Cortez expressed her solidarity.
“The ancient story of persecution against Jews in the Haggadah also reminds us that we must speak out against the alarming surge of Antisemitism – in our schools, communities, and online. Silence is complicity. Even in recent days, we’ve seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews,” the president’s statement read.
“This blatant Antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous – and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country,” Biden continued.