Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) strongly criticized the growing anti-Israel protests across college campuses this week. His statements come amid demonstrators building a series of tent cities around college campuses.
The senator used an expletive to describe the protesters. He also said that it was “not appropriate or legal or helpful to advance your argument if you show up in a Starbucks with a bullhorn and start yelling at people.” The senator said that such an effort did not make the protesters appear “noble.”
Fetterman has been one of the most stalwart defenders of Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack that killed about 1,200 people. The senator said that blocking roads was not appropriate and could cause issues in an emergency or for those heading to work or get their children.
Some of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations last week blocked roadways and bridges.
On Sunday the White House also issued a statement condemning what it called antisemitism on campus. This followed criticism from some conservatives that the president had not spoken forcefully enough.
“While every American has the right to peaceful protest, calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable and dangerous – they have absolutely no place on any college campus or anywhere in the United States of America,” said White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates.
Several colleges have seen students construct tent cities as part of their protests, including at Columbia and Yale Universities. The Ivy League schools have been home to increasingly tumultuous demonstrations, including one in which a Jewish student was stabbed in the eye by a Palestinian flag.
Furthermore, Columbia’s Jewish students received several warnings regarding possible violence on campus. The situation became so difficult that the school held its classes remotely on Monday.
Columbia is showing us exactly who they are: Jewish students told to stay home while the pro-Hamas, Jihadist KKK crowd gets free rein to expand their "liberated zone" across campus. It's time for a change in Columbia University leadership. pic.twitter.com/J5FCnlGpSI
— Burgess Owens (@BurgessOwens) April 23, 2024
Last week Columbia students occupied an academic hall, leading to more than 100 arrests. This included the daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). Her mother wrote on social media that she was proud of her daughter’s involvement.
