Biden says ‘order must prevail’ during campus protests over the war in Gaza

By CHRIS MEGERIAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is rejecting calls from student protesters to change his approach to the war in Gaza while insisting that “order must prevail” on college campuses across the country. Biden on Thursday defended the right to free speech and said he opposes sending in the National Guard even as he called for order. His comments broke days of silence as police crack down on encampments erected to show solidarity with Palestinians. Republicans have tried to turn scenes of campus unrest into a campaign cudgel against Democrats. Ex-President Donald Trump has criticized Biden for not speaking out more. The campus protesters want the U.S. to cut off support for Israel.