President Biden condemns violent anti-Israel protests, won’t call up National Guard

President Biden broke his silence on Thursday regarding the anti-Israel demonstrations that are roiling colleges and universities around the nation, condemning the violence that has broken out and saying that “there’s the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos.”

“Violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is,” he said. “It’s against the law when violence occurs. Destroying property is not a peaceful protest.”

Biden, who has been facing mounting media and political pressure to speak out, made the comments Thursday morning as he departed the White House.

On his way out, he noted that he would not be calling in the National Guard to quell the protests.

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Police detain a demonstrator inside a pro-Palestinian encampment on the UCLA campus on Thursday, May 2, in Los Angeles. (AP/Ethan Swope)

On the other side of the country, dramatic scenes are unfolding on the campus of UCLA, where police have been removing barricades surrounding a pro-Palestinian encampment and are detaining protesters.

Yesterday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that “The president is being kept regularly updated on what’s happening” when asked why he hasn’t spoken out recently about the demonstrations.

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Police arrive on the campus of UCLA, which has been rocked by anti-Israel demonstrations. (AP/Ethan Swope)

“He is monitoring the situation closely. So is his team,” she added. “And I would just add that no president, no president has spoken more forcefully about combating antisemitism than this president.”