Biden says dissent must not lead to disorder and his support for Israel remains unwavering amid college protests

President Joe Biden on Thursday attempted to balance the right to free speech and his desire for law and order in his first extensive remarks on campus protests against the war in Gaza – but insisted he has not changed his support for Israel.

In brief remarks from the White House before leaving for North Carolina on Thursday, Biden acknowledged that the right to free speech and the right to protest are fundamental American principals, but added: “We are not a lawless country.”

“We’re a civil society,” Biden said. “And order must prevail.”

Biden’s remarks were the most substantive he’s given since protesters have set up encampments on college campuses across the country to protest how Israel has waged its campaign in Gaza, and demand that their universities take steps to divest from the country.

After his speech, Biden dismissed a reporter’s question over whether the demonstrations have caused him to reassess American policy in the Middle East, simply saying, “No.”

More than 1,000 protesters have been arrested nationwide in the days since encampments have popped up. At some campuses, protesters have overtaken school buildings. An encampment at UCLA was attacked by pro-Israel counter protesters.

“We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent,” Biden said. “… Peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues.”

“But,” Biden added, “neither are we a lawless country.”

Destroying property, Biden said, “is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law.”

“Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancelation of classes and graduation – none of this is a peaceful protest,” the president said. “Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people is not peaceful protest. It’s against the law.”

Biden said dissent “is essential to democracy” but that it “must never lead to disorder, or to denying the rights of others.”

He added that there is no place in America for either antisemitism or Islamophobia: “It’s all wrong.”

“I understand people have strong feelings of deep convictions,” Biden said. “In America, we respect the right and protect the right for them to express that. But it doesn’t mean anything goes.”

After he was done speaking, Biden also dismissed the idea of supporting sending in the National Guard to quell protests on campus, again answering with just one word: “No.”