US President Joe Biden broke his long silence on Thursday while violent anti-Israel protests continued disrupting college campuses across the country.

“We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent. The American people are heard. In fact, peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues. But neither are we a lawless country. We’re a civil society and order must prevail,” Biden said in his remarks at the White House.

Biden reiterated his support for Israel while dismissing calls for the National Guard to intervene, stating that moments like these are often exploited by those seeking to score political points. He also drew a line between peaceful and violent protests.

“Violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is. It’s against the law when violence occurs. Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law. Vandalism. Trespassing. Breaking windows. Shutting down campuses. Forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations. None of this is a peaceful protest,” he said.

As per CNN, over 2,000 arrests have been made at colleges and universities since April 18 amidst the growing wave of pro-Hamas sympathy spreading across leading universities. At Portland State University, at least 30 arrests were made on Thursday as law enforcement worked to clear a library that had been occupied by demonstrators since Monday. Meanwhile, more than 200 arrests were made early Thursday morning at the University of California after anti-Israel protesters failed to disband their illegal encampment.

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