The White House condemned the takeover of a Columbia University academic building by Pro-Palestinian protesters and the use of the term \
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White House condemns takeover of Columbia University building, use of 'intifada' at college protests
President Joe Biden's White House condemned the forcible takeover of a Columbia University academic building by pro-Palestinian protesters and the use of the term "intifada," as the Biden administration sought to push back against "antisemitic smears and violent rhetoric" as a part of college protests.
Protesters at Columbia overran Hamilton Hall early Tuesday morning, hours after the school announced it had begun suspending student demonstrators who refused to leave an on-campus encampment. Some protesters, according to NBC News, held flags that read "INTIFADA," the Arabic word for uprising or rebellion.
"President Biden has stood against repugnant, antisemitic smears and violent rhetoric his entire life," Andrew Bates, a White House assistant press secretary, said in a statement. "He condemns the use of the term 'intifada,' as he has the other tragic and dangerous hate speech displayed in recent days."
The president respects the right to free expression, Bates added, "but protests must be peaceful and lawful."
"Forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful – it is wrong. And hate speech and hate symbols have no place in America," he said.
The Biden administration has finally addressed this but it likely cost them the far left voters they were trying to appease.