United States Presidential Election: in the middle of campaign, pro-Gaza campus protests divide universities and the country

campus protests - presidential election

Started more than two weeks ago, campus protests in favor of Palestine are now violently repressed by the American police. 

Joe Biden was forced to step in and toughen his stance for fear of appearing as the President of domestic chaos. Presidential election seems to be a second target.

The grass suffered a lot, but it will soon green again, protected by the dozens of New York police officers who, on Broadway, block the entrances to Columbia University, closed until the graduation ceremony scheduled for May 17. Some agents still wear the helmets and ninja outfits of the NYPD shock battalions, the same ones who stormed Tuesday, April 30 in the evening on the campus of the prestigious university to dislodge the tent camp of 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators installed for two weeks on the central lawn of the university.

Close to presidential election, American universities in turmoil,noted the press this morning related to campus protests. Student anger in support of the Palestinians has been spreading in the United States for two weeks now. And with them, the images of clashes between barricaded demonstrators dislodged by riot police.

The newspapers' editorials speak this morning of “the healthy rebellion of American students”. They draw a parallel between this student mobilization and those against the Vietnam War and apartheid in South Africa. 

It doesn't matter, "if the students leave the auditoriums, if they abandon their classes, it is a last resort, desperate by the inaction and the powerlessness of politicians to put an end to the horror in Gaza ."

Joe Biden as a tightrope walker

 What impact this mobilization will have on the American election?. Should Joe Biden fear student anger? General opinion is Joe Biden is in a bad situation and this mobilization could cost him his re-election, noting that he has completely lost the youth vote.

Opposite, the Republicans are unleashing themselves against what they describe as “campus chaos”. Under the pretext of denouncing anti-Semitism, Republican elected officials are in reality attacking Democrats and the Biden administration. “It’s all Joe Biden’s fault,” they explain, accusing the American president of “blowing on the embers of anti-Semitism.”

While Joe Biden seeks a position of balance, defending freedom of expression while denouncing hateful acts and remarks, the Republicans do not bother with nuances. According to them, campuses have simply fallen into “tyranny and anarchy”.

Biden says 'order must prevail' on campuses

Joe Biden said Thursday that “order must prevail” in the face of a wave of demonstrations in American universities in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.

“Violent demonstrations are not protected, peaceful demonstrations are,” said the American president, who will seek a second term against Republican Donald Trump in November.

“Vandalism, forceful intrusion, breaking windows, blocking campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes or graduation ceremonies, none of this falls within the scope of peaceful demonstration,” listed the Democrat from 81 years old. “It’s against the law.”

“As president, I will always defend freedom of expression and I will defend the law just as forcefully,” he said. “But anti-Semitism and threats against Jewish students have no place