Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, wants President Joe Biden to use the military against demonstrators. Demonstrations of support for Palestinians have been taking place for days on the campuses of Columbia in New York and other universities in the US. Before the Republican’s speech, “Mike, you suck” was chanted, among other things.
Yorick Dupon
25-04-24, 07:19
Latest update:
07:28
Source:
ANP, CNBC, New York Times, CNN
LOOK. Johnson calls out protesting students
The demonstrators condemn the rising death toll in the Gaza Strip. Since Israel’s invasion in October, at least 34,200 have been killed, mostly unarmed civilians. In addition, students are demanding that their universities stop investing in companies with ties to Israel.
Their expressions of support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip all too often include anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas slogans and calls for violence, say critics like Johnson. Jewish students also say they feel threatened by this.
According to organizers, these statements do not come from the demonstrators, but from “inflammatory individuals who do not represent us.”
National Guard
Before Johnson could begin his speech, he had to wait for the crowd to calm down. “Enjoy your free speech,” the Republican responded tensely, according to news channel CNBC. “Go back to class and stop this nonsense. Stop wasting your parents’ money,” he further said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives said he is asking Biden to take action: “If this is not nipped in the bud quickly and if these threats and intimidation do not stop, then it is time for the National Guard.”
Using the military to suppress protests has a grim history, notes the New York Times. For example, in 1970, four students were killed and nine injured when the Ohio National Guard fired shots at students demonstrating against war in Cambodia.
Johnson himself is currently fighting for his political career. He ensured that a large military aid package for Ukraine and Israel could be approved. He did this despite opposition from the right flank of the Republican party.
He has indicated that he does not want to resign as chairman. With the speech, Johnson tries to score points with right-wing Republicans.
WATCH ALSO. Hundreds of Jewish New Yorkers arrested during pro-Palestinian protest
Demonstrations also broke out on Wednesday at the universities of Ohio and Southern California and in the Texas city of Austin, where a tense confrontation took place between students and police in riot gear. More than twenty people were arrested, including a journalist.
In Los Angeles, at least fifty students were arrested on the USC campus in the evening (local time). Demonstrations took place at dozens of other large and smaller educational institutions, reports the ‘Washington Post’. Students from Harvard University in Boston set up a tent camp.
The wave of protests began at Columbia University, where dozens of demonstrators were arrested last week after university authorities called in police. On Wednesday, demonstrators were given 48 hours to break up a tent camp. Johnson wants principal Nemat Shafik to resign because she is not doing enough to protect Jewish students. Similar actions have also been reported at the University of Michigan, Yale and MIT.
WATCH ALSO. Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Biden’s fundraiser
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Tags: Prominent Republican army proPalestinian demonstrators American universities IsraelPalestine conflict
