Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israel Protesters Unite To Chant 'F*** Joe Biden'

Pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israel counterprotesters chanted "f*** Joe Biden" at the University of Alabama, according to video posted on social media.

Both sides were seen chanting the slogan while separated by barriers on the university's campus on Wednesday, according to a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, by Maven Navarro, the editor-in-chief of student publication The Crimson White.

Hundreds opposed to Israel's ongoing offensive in Gaza gathered for a "Protest for Palestinian Lives" on Wednesday afternoon. The majority of the anti-war protesters were students and faculty, but the crowd also included at least 100 counterprotesters and spectators, according to The Crimson White.

The pro-Palestinian protesters are demanding that the university call for a ceasefire in Gaza, cut ties with Lockheed Martin, rename a building named after a former CEO of the company and disclose the university's investments, according to the publication.

It comes as protests have been taking place on campuses nationwide against Israel's offensive in Gaza, which followed Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7. Militants killed about 1,200 people and took roughly 250 hostages. Since then, Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, The Associated Press reports, citing the local health ministry.

Students at Columbia University set up a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on the campus on April 17, calling on the school to stop doing business with Israel or companies they say support the war in Gaza.

Inspired by Columbia students, tent encampments have appeared at other universities across the country. Columbia and other universities have brought in police to clear encampments, resulting in mass arrests. In rarer instances, universities have struck agreements with protest organizers.

Arrests have been made at campus protests at least 38 times since April 18, according to an AP tally, with more than 1,600 people arrested at 30 schools.

Pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israel counterprotesters have clashed at some protests. On Tuesday night, counterprotesters arrived on the campus of the University of California Los Angeles and instigated violence at the site of a pro-Palestinian encampment.

Israel and its supporters have branded the university protests antisemitic, but protest organizers—which include Jewish students—say they are part of a peaceful movement protesting the war. Israel's critics also say that allegations of antisemitism are being weaponized to smear student protesters and deflect from Israel's actions in Gaza.

Biden's last public remarks on the protests were more than a week ago, when he condemned "antisemitic protests" on college campuses as well as "those who don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians." His comments sparked criticism from people on both sides of the issue.

In the days since, Biden—a staunch supporter of Israel—has stayed quiet about the protests and the police crackdowns.

The White House has condemned antisemitism and declined to criticize schools calling police on protesters or disciplining students involved in the protests.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday said Biden is "monitoring the situation closely," and that "no president has spoken more forcefully about combating antisemitism" than Biden. She added that Americans "have the right to peacefully protest as long as it's within the law."

On Monday, she said "universities and colleges make their own decisions" and "we're not going to weigh in from here" when asked if schools should threaten protesters with disciplinary action. Asked whether police should be called to campuses, she said that it was "up to the colleges and universities."

The protests and crackdowns come in an election year, raising the question that Biden could lose the support of young voters disappointed with his handling of the war.