White House condemns pro-Palestine Columbia University protesters

• The White House condemned pro-Palestine Columbia University protesters
• President Joe Biden condemned the use of the term ‘intifada’ 
• The phrase is used to encourage violence against Jews and Israelis 

The White House on Tuesday condemned the pro-Palestine Columbia University protesters who stormed Hamilton Hall and unfurled a banner that read ‘intifada.’

‘President Biden has stood against repugnant, Antisemitic smears and violent rhetoric his entire life. He condemns the use of the term “intifada,” as he has the other tragic and dangerous hate speech displayed in recent days,’ spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com.

The phrase is used to encourage violence against Jews and Israelis.

‘President Biden respects the right to free expression, but protests must be peaceful and lawful,’ Bates continued. ‘Forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful – it is wrong. And hate speeh and hate symbols have no place in America.’

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called forcibly taking over a building on Columbia’s campus ‘absolutely the wrong approach’ when asked about the demonstrations during a Tuesday morning press call.

President Joe Biden condemned the use of the term ‘intifada’ his spokesperson said Tuesday after demonstrators at Columbia University Monday night unfurled a banner that encouraged violence against Jews

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hung an ‘intifada’ banner off of Hamilton Hall Monday night on Columbia  University’s campus

‘That is not an example of peaceful protest,’ Kirby said. ‘And of course, as we you’ve rightly noted, hate speech and hate symbols also have no place in this country.’

Kirby said that a ‘small percentage of students’ shouldn’t be able to interrupt the academic experience for the majority.

‘Students paying to go to school and wanting an education ought to be able to do that without disruption and they ought to be able to do that and feel safe doing it,’ Kirby continued. ‘And they certainly ought to be able to graduate and participate in a graduation ceremony.’

Kirby was also asked if President Joe Biden supported the National Guard being deployed to campuses.

He pointed to responses made by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre last week when she said that was an issue for governors to take up.

‘That decision-making has to start with the governor,’ Kirby reiterated. ‘You pick the state because that’s their responsibility, there’s no active effort to look at federalizing the National Guard at this time.’

Columbia’s anti-Israel protesters smashed windows to obtain access to Hamiton Hall – a building that was also taken over by student demonstrators in April 1968 amid the civil rights and anti-Vietnam war movements.

The campus had directed students to disassemble their protest encampment by 2 p.m. Monday or face suspension.

Instead things got more rowdy on campus with the Hamilton Hall takeover.

Students also hung a banner that read Hind’s Hall’ in honor of Hind Rajab, 6, who died in Gaza in January.

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