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 move on Tuesday by endorsing pro-Palestinian campus protests and calling on President Biden to support a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. In a statement approved by the organization’s executive board, the College Democrats praised student protesters for their moral clarity in recognizing the destructive and unjust nature of the conflict in Gaza.

The statement came after two tumultuous 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. Overnight, protesters at Columbia took over a building on campus, with similar escalations at other universities like Portland State University and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.

The organization condemned rising incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia, emphasizing that calling for the freedom of Palestinians is not antisemitic. They criticized President Biden and other Democrats for not uniting behind calls for an immediate cease-fire and a two-state solution.

The statement, written largely by the organization’s Muslim Caucus, reflects a shift in the College Democrats’ understanding of their role as representatives of college students to the party. While the statement had supermajority support from the executive board, there were dissenting voices, with one member expressing concerns about the statement not condemning Hamas and comparing the protests to the civil rights movement.

Overall, the College Democrats’ endorsement of pro-Palestinian protests and their call for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza marks a significant departure from their usual alignment with the Democratic Party, signaling a growing divide within the party on the issue of Israel and Palestine.