Americans “have every right” to demonstrate

AA / Washington / Iclal Turan

The US State Department said Monday that Americans have “every right” to demonstrate, as pro-Palestinian protests on US college campuses have intensified in recent weeks.

At his daily press briefing, deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said it was a First Amendment practice, adding, “Certainly people have every right to do that.”

“We encourage people to do it peacefully and non-violently,” Patel said in response to an Anadolu correspondent’s question.

When asked if US policy would be changed or affect the protests, Patel said the only criteria in the decision-making process was the best interest of the American people and what made Americans safer.

“From our perspective, an increase in humanitarian aid is a good thing for the United States,” Patel said.

He added: “Defeating Hamas is a good thing for the United States, ensuring that Gaza is no longer a launching point for terrorism is also a good thing for the United States, and a two-state solution that brings more peace, stability and integration to the Middle East region is also a good thing for the United States.”

The White House also echoed the State Department.

“We will continue to say that all Americans have the right to protest peacefully,” spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said at a news conference.

Asked about possible suspensions or expulsions of protesting students, Karine Jean-Pierre said it was up to the leaders of their universities and colleges to decide.

Hundreds of students have been arrested on US campuses during protests calling for universities to disassociate from Israel and condemn the ongoing war against the besieged Gaza Strip, where more than 34,400 Palestinians have been killed.

*Translated from English by Mourad Belhaj

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