Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said that many of the pro-Palestine demonstrating on college campuses are doing so “for the right reasons.”
The Vermont lawmaker joined CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour where the pair discussed President Joe Biden’s recent condemnation of the pro-Palestine protests over the use of pro-Hamas chants and anti-Semitic rhetoric.
Sanders said the president was correct in calling out hate and violence at pro-Gaza protests, but said it is important to draw a distinction for those protesting against the Israeli government.
AMANPOUR: Do you believe President Biden got it just right? Or what would you say in his first comments about these protests?
SANDERS: Well, he’s exactly right is that we don’t want protests that are violent. And we absolutely will not tolerate anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia or any form of bigotry. Of course, he’s right on that. But I think, Christiane, it is important to understand, why these protesters are out there and they are out there not because they are pro Hamas. They are out there because they are outraged by what the Israeli government is now doing in Gaza, which is bringing unbelievable, not just to the terrorist organization of Hamas, but to the entire Palestinian people.
@ISIDEWITH5mos5MO
What responsibility do public figures like Bernie Sanders have in shaping public perception of protest movements?
@ISIDEWITH5mos5MO
How can protesters ensure their message is heard as intended without being misconstrued or hijacked by others with different agendas?
@ISIDEWITH5mos5MO
Is it appropriate to label all criticism of a government's policies as support for that government's enemies?
@ISIDEWITH5mos5MO
Should individuals be held accountable for the slogans or chants used in protests they participate in, even if their personal beliefs do not align with those messages?
@ISIDEWITH5mos5MO
Do you think it's possible to protest against a government's actions without supporting extremist groups associated with that region?