(Daily360.com) Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez praised people protesting on behalf of Palestine in her remarks at an Earth Day event with President Joe Biden. Senators Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey were also on hand to speak before the President took the stage. President Biden announced more federal investment in the American Climate Corps, which provides training for green energy. He also announced more funding for solar panels in residential neighborhoods.
Ocasio-Cortez made a statement that the “power of organizing” is what made the latest federal investment possible. She compared this organizing success with young people that are leading peaceful protests on university campuses. She referred to Columbia, Yale, and Berkley.
After Ocasio-Cortez left the stage, President Biden took his turn to speak. He praised her comments and told the crowd that he “learned a long time ago” to “listen to that lady.”
The protests around the country have been criticized for being antisemitic in nature. A student-led Jewish group shared details of comments that were made at protests, including to “go back to Poland” and to “stop killing children.” Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the Biden administration, called the actions “blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous.”
AOC denounced Columbia University for calling the police on peaceful protestors. Meanwhile, Senators Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton have called for National Guard reinforcement to protect Jewish students on campus.
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik moved all in-person classes to the internet on April 22 as a way to de-escalate the tensions on campus. Shafik made reference to “intimidating and harassing behavior” that has been happening at the university campus. He also said “appropriate action will be taken” in response to antisemitic comments that are made on campus.
April 22 was the start of Passover, a Jewish holiday. There were more protests against Israel at colleges across the country. Images have been shared of a banner at the University of Michigan that reads “long live the intifada.” That refers to an “armed uprising of Palestinians against Israeli occupation.”
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