College Democrats Support Protests and Condemn Biden’s Israel Policy

The College Democrats of America, the student organization of the Democratic Party, made a bold statement on Tuesday by endorsing pro-Palestinian campus protests and calling on President Biden to support a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. The organization’s executive board approved the statement by a vote of 8 to 2, praising student protesters for their moral clarity in recognizing the destructive and unjust nature of the conflict.

The statement comes after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests spreading to campuses nationwide, following a police crackdown at Columbia University. Students have set up encampments and continued their protests even after facing suspension or arrest. The organization condemned the suspension and arrests of protesters by college administrators and police.

The statement also criticized lawmakers for smearing all protesters as hateful and denounced rising incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia. It called for an immediate, permanent cease-fire in Gaza and a push for a two-state solution that recognizes an independent Palestinian state.

This move by the College Democrats is a significant departure from their usual alignment with the Democratic Party. The organization emphasized the importance of representing youth voices and criticized the party for failing to do so on the issue of Palestine/Israel. The statement was written largely by the organization’s Muslim Caucus, reflecting a growing dissatisfaction with President Biden’s Israel policy among young voters.

The organization’s vice president, Sunjay Muralitharan, highlighted the shift in their understanding of their role as representatives of college students to the party. The statement was a bold move to hold the party accountable and ensure that youth voices are heard on this critical issue.