Despite polls, Biden aides insist Gaza campus protests will not hurt reelection bid

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

May 18, 2024 4:14 PM EDT Updated an hour ago


WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - Several top White House aides say they are confident protests across U.S. college campuses against Israel's offensive in Gaza will not translate into significantly fewer votes for Joe Biden in November's election, despite polls showing many Democrats are deeply unhappy about the U.S. president's policy on the war.

The White House optimism on the issue, which is shared by many in the Biden campaign, runs contrary to dire warnings from some Democratic strategists and youth organizers who warn misjudging the situation could cost Biden dearly in a tight race with Republican rival Donald Trump.

Several aides told Reuters they are advising Biden to remain above the fray, rather than directly engage with the relatively small groups of protesters on college campuses, arguing their numbers are too insignificant to harm the president's reelection campaign.

Faced with a choice between Biden and Trump in November, many officials remain confident even Democrats who oppose U.S. policy will choose Biden. Reuters interviewed nearly a dozen top White House officials in recent days, but only two expressed concern about the impact of the protests and Biden's handling of the issue.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/despite-polls-biden-aides-insist-gaza-campus-protests-will-not-hurt-reelection-2024-05-18/

[Traurigkeit]

1. Lucky in the United States protesting is still allowed.

Not liked by a minority of those living in the United States.
Allowed by an amendment of the U.S. Constitution the some of those people living in this country read and attempt to understand.
We must allow, respect and fight that the protests go on, even if we do not like the protest.
That is the thought.

Freedom of Speech is the protection of speech/thought that a person might not like but will fight for that person to be free to speak.

A very hard thing to do.

I respect those that take up the hard fight. Like President Joe Biden.

[Think. Again.]

2. Why would it affect Biden's chances?

The hostility, violence, and disruption at the protests are all being instigated by rightwing outsiders, and the myth about not voting for Biden in the election is also just rightwing B.S.

Yes, the protesters are trying to make themselve's heard that they want US support for Israel to be conditional on netanyahu not killing innocent, non-hamas civilians, but we do still have a first amendment here, whether the rightwinger's like that or not.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. It's the "narrative" the corporate media have been promoting for some time now

and they have continued portraying Democrats as angst-filled, worrying, concerned weaklings.

They did the same with the BLM protests in 2020 during what existed as an "election season" (much of it "virtual" due to COVID), assuming that black people actually agreed with the likes of idiots like "Diamond and Silk" and thus Democrats "were losing black voters", while insinuating that any looting was being done by BLM supporters, and other nonsense.

As I have posted many times now - "Polls don't vote, people do."

[Think. Again.]

7. Well said.

[stopdiggin]

41. except that we've had any number of people on the left

Last edited Mon May 20, 2024, 01:31 AM - Edit history (1)

(and within the protest movement itself) - saying very explicitly that it WILL affect who they vote for (or refrain from voting for) in the election.

So - while I tend to agree (hopefully) with admin advisors on the minority of their numbers, and actual impact. By their own testimony ...

[betsuni]

45. Yes, and with elections so close, it makes a difference.

[Think. Again.]

50. Well, there was that one gentleman at Morehouse...

...who turned his back on Biden's commencement speech, but no one actually asked him how he would be voting.

The election is still month's away, let's not count votes yet.

[stopdiggin]

54. does this recollection of events

start and finish with last week? There have been plenty of speeches, articles, opinion, 'letters to the editor', public (and private) chastisement ... It takes a particularly blind eye to stick with the claim - that there has been no 'notice' of consequence in November. Quite clearly there has. In volumes.

[Think. Again.]

56. My apologies...

I thought we were discussing whether the protesters have announced their voting intentions, not just random people.

[stopdiggin]

67. are we now saying that 'protesters' are NOT expressing these same sentiments

- regarding November? ( 'cause I don't think THAT flies particularly well either .. )
Man, I'm having a really hard time tracking you, friend ...

- - - - - - - - - - - -

[Think. Again.]

68. I can honestly say...

...I haven't seen any of the protesters declaring they will not be voting for Biden.

If you have an examples of that (and please don't waste my time with outside agitator B.S. or media exagerations) I will gladly watch or read that.

[womanofthehills]

58. Not true - most of the kids speaking up sound very liberal

Esp Jewish Groups - Jewish Voice for Peace, and If Not Now helped plan many of the protests.

Videos on Twitter of Univ of Mass kids sitting peacefully on ground being beaten by state police - 130 kids arrested and ties left on their hands for 6 yrs & not allowed to use bathroom for 6 hrs & women not allowed to change tampons. This sounds like IDF stuff - not America. This is not free speech.

[Think. Again.]

61. But those are rightwing tactics...

...being used against the student protesters.

Again I ask, how would that affect Biden's chances?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. When push come to shove, these protesters should not want TFG's muslim ban and deportations

Link to tweet

[Think. Again.]

28. They don't.

[AnrothElf]

5. Much to MSM's dismay. They want a horse race. Pro-Hamas protesters just want to burn the world down

[Think. Again.]

8. There are no pro-hamas protests...

There are pro-Palestinian protests with outside rightwing agitators creating hostile environments and spinning secondary narratives.

[Cha]

25. That's just not true.. We've Seen the

Last edited Mon May 20, 2024, 12:23 AM - Edit history (1)

"pro hamas" protesters in the streets.

Just one Example..

Link to tweet

[Think. Again.]

26. That small group of people outside a subway station...

...are obviously not at any of the campus protests.

As I mentioned, there are outside rightwing agitators creating hostile environments and spinning secondary narratives.

[Cha]

29. Pro hamas Protesters..

“[Izz ad-Din] Al-Qassam [Brigades], make us proud, take another soldier out,” anti-Israel demonstrators chanted on Friday night in a video published on social media by pro-Palestinian activist ThizzL. “We say justice, you say how? Burn Tel Aviv to the ground. Go Hamas, we love you. We support your rockets too.”

[Think. Again.]

32. rightwing agitators.

Those exist too.

[Cha]

39. Philly - shocking speech tonight praising the 10/7 massacre in Israel

Link to tweet

[Think. Again.]

49. I only saw the 20 seconds you posted...

...but that didn't seem like praise for 10/7 to me.

[Cha]

64. "Students from the Columbia University School of Social Work are celebrating October 7th"

Link to tweet

[Think. Again.]

65. Wow, that's more than just a misleading headline...

...that's an outright lie.

It's an academic discussion on the signifigance of Oct. 7, not a "celebration" or "defence" of anything.

[Cha]

69. Opinion: People shocked by student support for Hamas shouldn't have been

Thankfully, some heroic citizens in the corporate world have issued a response. Students may have the right to openly support murder, but hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman explained that he and his fellow business leaders have a legitimate interest in knowing their names so they never inadvertently hire any of them. When a New York University Law student released a statement similarly hideous to Harvard’s, the law firm of Winston and Strawn exercised its own right to rescind the student’s employment offer.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/24/opinions/israel-harvard-penn-student-protests-hamas-goldfeder/index.html

[betsuni]

71. The NYU student whose law firm job was rescinded can now follow his conscience, be morally pure

and righteous, dedicate his life to solidarity with fascist terrorist groups in glorious revolution against the evil West and capitalism!

[Cha]

75. Yes, the self righteous "pro Hamas" protesters can

Scream their pro hamas Rhymes in the Universities and streets and "openly support murder".. but there will be Consequences...

Thank Goodness for People like Bill Ackerman who makes sure they're held Accountable.

[betsuni]

84. Seems a major misunderstanding that extremist religious fundamentalist fascist terrorists

are nice socialists who will totally respect food intolerances and diversity. Nuts.

[stopdiggin]

42. Your original header: "There are no pro-hamas protests ..."

was followed by fairly pointed refutation. And the notion that they can all be explained away as 'right wing agitators' - is also spurious and wishful thinking. They have dampened their volume a great deal (given the wisdom of prior experience) - but they clearly DO exist, and are still roaming around out there.

[Cha]

43. Thank You.

[Think. Again.]

51. rightwing agitators....

....just like kyle rittenhouse, only other rightwingers are willing to believe he was just an average teenager who was so concerned about possible damage to random storefronts in a town he didn't live in.

[stopdiggin]

55. pushing this (fimsy) line

(multiple times) real devalues any remaining merit your position might warrant ...
This is the same (juvenile and frankly ridiculous) cover story that Tucker Carlson, and ilk, were trotting out to explain away the rioting and criminal behavior of Jan 6th. It was an insult to plain evidence and common intelligence then .. and it hasn't gained any particular standing in the ensuing ...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(are we now claiming that Rittenhouse, the high school dropout that could barely tie his own shoes, was some deep cover 'operative'? joking, right? - - - - - - - - )

[Think. Again.]

57. No, just pointing out that rightwing instigators...

....are not new at co-opting legitimate protests.

[betsuni]

52. Ridiculous to explain it all away as right-wing agitators, same as saying all anti-Democratic propaganda

in 2016 was foreign bots and trolls. Bullshit.

[Cha]

70. Yes it is... .. they can keep denying the Recorded Proof But

it Doesn't Chage the Reality one tiny iota.

[Think. Again.]

76. (pssst...there's no recorded proof).

[betsuni]

77. A diabolical plot! Students who've been paying tuition and taking classes are actually right-wing agitators

waiting, sometimes for years, to be activated for this moment. Ah, this is a sacrifice for the cause, indeed.

[Think. Again.]

78. I agree...

...that video (which was posted here on DU) of the student instigating trouble at a blocked protest camp instead of just going to class another way, WHICH WAS SET UP TO BE FILMED FOR A RIGHTWING YOUTUBE CHANNEL seems to prove your point.

[betsuni]

46. Yes, not true.

Was reading a book today (!) that claimed anti-Democratic lies, slander, conspiracy theories, propaganda that became so popular in 2016 was mostly online bots and impostors.

No. We experienced it in real life. Real people, friends, family members, media, elected officials who obviously weren't foreign bots. Same thing here.

[Cha]

47. Yes, Thank You, betsuni.

I have a lo more evidence at the ready if there are any more denials of the reality of "Pro Hamas Protesters in the Schools and Streets"

We're Dems.. we don't deal in "Gaslight and Propaganda"



:

[Think. Again.]

60. That makes my statement TRUE, though.

[PufPuf23]

73. Barak Ravid wrote a positive book about Trump and the Middle East.

You should check your sources better.

Trump's Peace: The Abraham Accords And The Reshaping Of The Middle East

Published in Hebrew in Israel in early December 2021, Trump’s Peace was the first book about Trump’s signature foreign policy achievements in the Middle East and quickly became a bestseller. It is based on a series of exclusive conversations between former US President Donald Trump and senior Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, as well as interviews with US secretaries of state, senior advisors and diplomats in capitals across the Middle East, and even secret service agents intimately involved in Israel’s covert diplomatic efforts.

President Trump’s policies and decisions fundamentally reshaped the geopolitical map of the Middle East. The Abraham Accords, brokered by his administration, brought about peace and normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. The only part of Trump’s legacy to receive bipartisan domestic praise and widespread global support, the accords could be considered the biggest diplomatic breakthrough of the century in the Middle East peace process.

“[Netanyahu] was very early [to congratulate Biden on the election results]. Like, earlier than most. I haven’t spoken to him since. Fuck him. ”

In his book, Ravid goes behind the scenes of Trump’s term in office and delivers exclusive insights into the secret discussions and agreements between Israel and the Gulf states. Many of the stories told here — especially those regarding the president’s relationship with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu — have never been told before. With unrivaled access in Jerusalem, Washington, DC, Abu Dhabi, Manama and Rabat, Ravid is able to offer the most comprehensive, engaging and balanced account yet of those four dramatic years in the Middle East. This latest edition also includes a new chapter on the legacy of the accords and the Biden administration’s relationship with them.

https://www.amazon.com/Trumps-Peace-Abraham-Accords-Reshaping-ebook/

[NanaCat]

6. I find these children exasperating

The all-or-nothing thinking is stupid and destructive.

Even when I was involved in the Central American protest movement and the DNC wasn't all that worked up about it, I wasn't so bloody fucking stupid as to think it was the only bloody issue to care about. I also cared about reproductive rights, women's rights, gay rights, labour, and many other things that the Democratic party also supported.

I knew that there was more to life than the cause I was protesting for, and those other facts of life mattered as much or more as the Central American movement--because a bunch of those things would have a direct impact on my life if the GQP got too powerful. Unlike what happened to people living thousands of miles away. Yeah, I cared about the Salvadorans and Nicaraguans and Guatemalans, yeah, I wanted us to stop being stupid violent wankers to them, but I never forgot that what was happening right here also well mattered--and mattered a lot.

And I bloody well voted accordingly.

These petulant children need to buck up and do the same.

[Nar1987]

10. Expecting them do to stupid stuff

is like relying on Usain bolt to beat Giuliani in a 100m dash, it will most certainly happen.

I'd like to know what's Joe's plan to appeal to moderate fence sitters, if we can get them to vote blue, that'd be more than enough to make the fringe campus left vote dispensable.

[womanofthehills]

40. Maybe they are sick of seeing images of little kids with their heads blown off on their phones day after day

American kids have never seen a war in real time on their phones or so many dead and injured (burnt & amputated toddlers. “petulant -
“- I think not - we should be worried if American kids thought this was ok.

If we have a democracy & free speech so why are peaceful protesters being beaten on the street for not pledging alliance with Israel.

The last few days of Rafah being bombed on Twitter, so many photos of toddlers with half their heads blown off and almost 50% of 18 to 29 yr olds are on Twitter. Of course, any moral kid is going to protest seeing a war where baby after baby is killed. In the USA- we would not bomb a school/hospital/apartments etc because one low level terrorist MIGHT be hiding there so why is that ok in Palestine?

Ted Cruz said a few days ago that we need to get rid of TicToc because there are too many pro Palestine posts & he’s going to talk to Biden about it. Hugh??????

[betsuni]

53. "why are peaceful protesters being beaten on the street for not pledging alliance with Israel."

That is not happening. The police ask protesters if they pledge alliance to Israel and then beat them if say no?

[womanofthehills]

63. Gov Abbott - no free speech in Texas

New rule in Texas - if you chant from the river to the sea - the law will be called to arrest you.

Link to tweet

?s=46&t=YZgyyp4w_z7vW3neKxa6cQ

[Nar1987]

9. Can't Joe

Stop using corn to make bioethanol and instead send it to the breakfast table for free?

This should help recover some of the damage done by inflation.

On top of that he can also get rid of the Jones act and tarrifs on high fructose corn syrup, I think some of Nikki Haley's supporters would like that and stay home this November, perhaps even defect.

[Kablooie]

11. I don't know what they really think...

but they sure give the impression that they believe that Biden has the election nearly locked up.
I would think that Clinton's experience would warn them against this attitude.
Clinton's team were all so confident because it was inconceivable that anyone would vote for Trump.

I feel that the Biden team is following the same path and that is not a safe path to victory.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. I doubt anyone thinks "the election" is "nearly locked up"

I think that some Democrats need to stop accepting and wholesale internalizing the negativity that is being promoted as a "narrative" by the mass media and foreign actors, and instead focus on ensuring that the infrastructure is in place (fundraising, voter registration, canvassing, providing rides to polls, having lawyers ready to battle nonsensical lawsuits) to get the turnout needed to wrap this thing up.

There have been SEVEN major sets of elections (primaries and generals) and numerous "special elections" and referendum elections, where Democrats have been shown to "over-perform" - just since 2020.

So instead of ignoring all of that and even dismissing the 2020 election completely by going back to what happened 8 years ago in 2016, let's embrace the messages that the party is promoting, and pass those messages on.

[liberalmediaaddict]

44. They don't believe they have the election locked up

Every Biden strategist and pollster I've heard interviewed has said they know it's going to be a close race and are taking nothing for granted.

Just like in 2020 when they reminded Democrats not to get overconfident about polls showing Biden way ahead. They predicted a tight race and it was.

Unfortunately the war in Gaza isn't a political problem Biden can simply solve unilaterally. He can't force Netanyahu to stop bombing Palestinians. And if he tries to cut off aid Republicans will block him.

They're definitely aware it's a political liability. That's why his national security team is working nonstop to negotiate a cease fire.

[Lonestarblue]

12. Are these the same type of DC aides who Hillary to skip Michigan because she had the state in the bag?

The insularity of people who don’t get out of DC much can be a problem.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Did you see this?

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2024/05/18/first-lady-jill-biden-tells-detroit-crowd-womens-rights-at-stake-in-fall-election/73708944007/

(ETA - OP on that here - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143242684)



But did you also forget this -

And as a note, Biden won Michigan in the now-forgotten 2020 election by 154,000 votes (vs Clinton losing by just under 11,000).

2024 is NOT 2016.

[mahina]

23. Hoping we've all seen the group of Republicans that don't support Trump

I have yet to see Democrats against Joe

[BumRushDaShow]

30. And after that commencement in GA, Biden is in Michigan tonight

at a Detroit NAACP dinner -

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

48. Unfortunately I have.

My older son (26) and one of my nieces (19) have both said they will not vote for Biden, in part because of his support of Israel's actions in the current war.

I have tried talking with them but have not changed their mind.

This does not mean they will vote for Trump. My son worked on Bernie's campaign in 2020. He would never vote for Trump. But he may go to the polls and vote dem on the down ballot races and simply leave the top blank.

As he points out living in MA his protest non-vote is not likely to change the electoral calculus, but he will feel better about his choice.

I do not know how prevalent this idea or plan is, but I know there are some young people who are not willing to compromise their opinions to stop the greater evil.

And parents and pseudo-parents arguing against this only makes the young voters more certain in their plans.

I think there is reason to worry.

[Novara]

15. Maybe my head is in the sand but I haven't heard or read about one single protester saying they won't vote ...

... for Biden. Or that they'd vote for the criminal instead.

Using your First Amendment right to protest grievance does not equal not voting for the incumbent. But the media doesn't know that, and hey, that would be boring to report, so they have to make it sound like Biden can't hang on, just on this ONE issue.

There are many issues, and reproductive rights is still in the lead as one of the most important issues to voters.

And yes, Democrats have CONSISTENTLY over-performed versus polling. Polls have been off since 2016 - do not trust them. Learn how to read them with a critical eye. Most polls are biased. Many pollsters are definitely biased, like Rassmussen. Additionally, there is a major difference in how people respond to opinion polls about ISSUES versus CANDIDATES. Pay attention to the issues polls - they are more predictive than polls regarding candidates. Also? Keep in mind that most polls include people who don't even vote or at best vote inconsistently; therefore, they can't be predictive of actual election results.

There are a ton of reasons polls have been off for years. Best to keep a very critical eye and TALK to people.

But then again, if the media kept saying Joe's got it in the bag, a bunch of people will likely sit out the election thinking that he's so far in the lead that their vote doesn't matter, so if the media keeps up the pressure and it works to get people to vote, then I'll take it.

[Icanthinkformyself]

16. ".... a tight race with Republican rival Donald Trump."

the right wing narrative pushed by the MSM. There really is no horse race. Biden will win in a landslide. It's the post election chaos and confusion brought to us by Republicans that will be the problem. But, remember who will still be in charge of the executive branch come January, 2025.

[Progressive dog]

17. There is a lot more at stake than

whether Joe Biden will support Hamas over Israel. The protesters insist that Israel stop and wait for Hamas to attack and win.
I think most sane people would prefer that the Israeli government would try harder to protect Palestinian noncombatants but the only choice America has is who to support.

[Sky Jewels]

33. What?!

They are actually insisting that Israel stop its brutal bombing, attacking, ethnic cleansing, mass murder, flattening and destruction of Gaza.

[Progressive dog]

89. Theyy can insist all they want

Their "beliefs" don't make it true.The Israelis have a right to defend themselves against terrorists.

[PennRalphie]

18. The protests on campuses are already forgotten

This election is about the economy. I live in Western PA where the other guy is really despised even by republicans. I would like to see a huge landslide and all Biden has to do is convince them to vote for him. They’re already not voting for the other guy. A positive message about the economy is all that’s needed.

I spent the last 11 days in TN and SC. People are spending money like crazy. I would love to see ads with all of the crowds everywhere, spending money. That would guarantee the landslide that’s needed.

The images from college campuses are soon forgotten during summer vacation season.

[R Merm]

19. People are missing that it's not just the pro-Palestinian students mad at Biden

It’s also the Jewish Students who are feeling that Biden has not done enough to make them feel safe on campus. I have had conversations with some of these students who 6 months ago were solidly behind Biden are now talking about voting for trump.

[Bob0264]

21. Single Issue Idiocy And No Clue About Government

I understand passions, but single issue idiocy is at play here in a big way.
And also absolute ignorance and detachment from reality. Biden is not a magician.
Some of the expectations are ridiculous. It is up to campus authorities and other
LOCAL and perhaps STATE authorities to "make them feel safe on campus".
These people need a middle school civics lesson.
If they would not look at ALL the issues and would vote for
the ultra-scumbag that is Trump, then they would deserve
the punishment that they would receive by having The Orange Freak
back in the White House.

[R Merm]

24. I don't disagree with you.

But, it's going to be an issue and the repugs are doing a better "show" on addressing campus antisemitism. Telling them that they are being "ridiculous" and in need of "a middle school civics lesson" is only alienating them more.

[Bob0264]

90. They are a fringe. And they need reality. They are educated by Tik Tok. It's nonsense.

[Think. Again.]

27. The pro-rightwing netanyahu vote is obviously a pro-rightwing repub vote.

[R Merm]

35. These students are not pro bibi and for the most part want

To see the hostages returned and a lasting ceasefire. What they object to is being attacked on campus for being Jewish.

[Think. Again.]

36. A video that I have seen posted here...

...of a Jewish student starting a confrontation at a campus protest turned out to be filmed for an ultra-rightwing youtube channel targetting youth whose motto is "the conservative movement starts here".

[R Merm]

37. Wow one student.

Jewish students are being blocked from different parts of campus including libraries and lecture halls, antisemitic messages are being spray panted all over campus. I have seen videos of students who are wearing yarmulkes being harassed just walking to classes.

These are left leaning students being lost to the Democratic Party.

[Think. Again.]

38. Yes, as I've mentioned...

...rightwing instigators, provocateurs, and chaos agents are having a field day with the peaceful protests.

[PufPuf23]

72. Cal Poly Humboldt was not reported accurately in news coverage.

1. Cal Poly Humboldt was California State University Humboldt prior to the academic year. The switch to Cal Poly Humboldt was accompanied by several hundred million in investment, more emphasis on STEMS, and a major increase in student enrollment. Plans were inadequate for all the new students to live. Students that had been living in the dorms were evicted for the new influx of students without places to live. The homeless students set up camps on campus. The new university president went directly to law enforcement and ultimately several motels were leased and dorms are being built.

2. Siemens Hall was occupied in a peaceful protest and some students went to get food for a Seder and came back to law enforcement confronting the protestors. The situation escalated from there. About 70% of the faculty had already voted a "no confidence" and requested the new university president and his chief of staff resign. The university president responded by administering remotely and relying on law enforcement, ultimately major law enforcement from out of Humboldt County.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218927421

3. Humboldt County has a deep bench of veteran protestors. There are grandmothers and great grandmothers that have not quit protesting since Vietnam. Timber Wars protestors accustomed to tree sits and chaining themselves to gates or equipment to be pepper sprayed. Native American Activists that have led the efforts to undam the Klamath River most recently. There is a fine and respected Native American studies program at Cal Poly Humboldt and the Humboldt County Reservations and Rancherias are a growing political and economic locally and actual genocide is not that far past history. The administration screwed up initially in heavy handed approach then doubled down.

4. Local Jewish leaders approached the university administration in February and were blown off. University administration said they had met with the Jewish leaders and lied. The Jewish leaders finally met with university administrators May 2 and issued a press release that was also a letter to local Democratic politicians McGuire and Wood asking for help.

JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERS SAY CAL POLY HUMBOLDT PROTESTS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC

Press release from leaders in the local Jewish community who want their letter to Democratic local leaders Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood available:

Dear Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood,

As leaders in the Jewish community in Humboldt County, we express our disappointment in your recent press release in which you referenced “antisemitic hate speech” in connection to the protests at Cal Poly Humboldt. Yes, there have been instances of antisemitism. Yes, there is important work to be done. But we do not find the protests themselves to be antisemitic and we reject it as justification for the police force used against the protesters. This inappropriate justification is all the more problematic because it was done without any consultation with Jewish community leaders.

cut

In early February, Jewish community leaders contacted University administration requesting a meeting on urgent problems and solutions. It took three months to get a one-hour meeting. During that time the situation deteriorated, and the University failed to engage with us in any meaningful way. We were surprised to read a recent press release in which the University stated they “have been in touch with Jewish community leaders.” This is inaccurate. Now it appears that our well-intentioned elected officials have been misled by the University.

The protests loudly demonstrated a lack of cultural sensitivity and indifference to alienation of Jewish students with opposing views. The University ignored offers of help from Jewish leaders and failed to provide students, faculty and staff with resources to address antisemitism and support Jewish life on campus. This must change. At a long-awaited meeting on May 2 with the Dean of Students, it was agreed that vigorous, long term effort is needed to educate the Cal Poly Humboldt community about and respond to antisemitism. Crimes and discrimination must be taken seriously, and spurious charges of antisemitism must be scrupulously avoided.

cut

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=18921070

5. The protestors were not all students, some were faculty, but there were not outside professional agitators. But law enforcement came in force from far from Humboldt County. Protests started at the Humboldt courthouse in Eureka not long after October 7. At first there were no pro-Israel protestors. One of the protestors with the largest sign that said, "Kill Jew Babies". The guy turned out to be an Assistant DA with an Israeli flag in his office window. Later the guy protested across the street with pro-Israel and was interviewed by local media. Here is the video of the interview.

6. One of the rightwing Access in Media came through the closed campus and the driver was arrested and released. This is weird as no one including LE seems to know who the driver was and there has been no public follow up.

"Law enforcement responded and the driver, who we were told was a Russian national, was arrested. At 10:20 a.m., the Humboldt County Correctional facility booking log shows a Sergey Vladimirovich Polishchuk was booked on a single charge, PC602(m), trespassing, which many of the protesters arrested Tuesday morning were also charged with, as the campus was closed due to the protests. Polishchuk was released after posting bail a little after 2 p.m. yesterday."

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218927421

7. Cal Poly Humboldt is easily the most progressive institution in Humboldt County. The investment and change to a Cal Poly is a major move by the Democratic Party locally. Local rightwing loves and is gloating over the damage (not physical, that is exaggerated) to the university and reputation.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

20. While many youth may disapprove of his stance it is not their top priorty

Young people disapprove of Biden’s Israel policy. It may not mean much for November.

In fact it looks like only about a third consider it important.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

22. Then why does everyone keep saying "enjoy the camps"?

[FloridaBlues]

31. There's too much at stake here in America for the the Gaza war to

Be the deciding factor I believe.

[Doodley]

34. I think it would be better to say he is listening to concerns about Gaza and list actions he has taken, while

maintaining support for Israel.

[Ping Tung]

59. IMO most of the protesters of the atrrocities in Gaza will end up voting for Biden.

Or, at least against Trump.

[pstokely]

62. how many of them are in states up for grabs?

they might cast a protest vote if they're in a solid red or blue state

[Ping Tung]

66. Maybe. But, if that's the case it won't matter.

[betsuni]

74. Democratic presidents try for peace. Carter, Clinton, Obama, Biden. Too much to ask to know this basic fact.

In "A Promised Land" Obama describes a dinner with Netanyahu, Abbas, Mubarak, and Abdullah. Everyone gave a speech about their hopes for the future:

"To an outsider, it would have seemed a hopeful moment, the start of something new. And yet later that night ... I couldn't help feeling a vague sense of disquiet. The speeches, the small talk, the easy familiarity -- it all felt too comfortable, almost ritualized, a performance that each of the four leaders had probably participated in dozens of times before, designed to placate the latest U.S. president who thought things could change. I imagined them shaking hands afterwards, like actors taking off their costumes and makeup backstage ... .

"And I thought of all the children, whether in Gaza or in Israeli settlements or on the street corners of Cairo and Amman, who would continue to grow up knowing mainly violence, coercion, fear, and the nursing of hatred because, deep down, none of the leaders I'd met with believed anything else was possible."

[Think. Again.]

79. Peace, you mean like a ceasefire?

...like the ceasefire Biden called for at Morehouse.

[betsuni]

80. Carter, Clinton, Obama, Biden.

[Think. Again.]

81. All relaying the same message as the campus protests.

[betsuni]

82. What message?

[Think. Again.]

83. Peace, otherwise known as ceasefire.

[betsuni]

85. No, ceasefires are temporary. Hamas broke the last ceasefire.

[Think. Again.]

87. Well, Biden himself did call for a ceasefire....

....at Morehouse last week, just like what all those "horrible" campus protests are calling for, sooo....

[myohmy2]

86. "...Gaza campus protests will not hurt reelection bid"

...ain't gonna help...

[Think. Again.]

88. but may save lives.