Anti-Semitic Activities on U.S. College Campuses may Bring Concerns for the 2024 Election.

In a statement made on April 22nd, the current President of the United States, Biden, condemned the recent series of anti-Semitic protests on college campuses in the United States. He criticized both sides of the campus conflicts and emphasized the need to condemn anti-Semitism.

Over the past few months, despite Biden’s attempts to better adjust his responses to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the escalating situation may lead to the conflict expanding to the entire Middle East region. This has become a political issue that poses challenges for the Biden administration, making it difficult to balance between the pro-Palestinian and pro-Jewish voters in the United States.

Polls show that Biden’s advantage over former President Trump among young voters has significantly decreased compared to four years ago, which could bring a new uncertainty to the 2024 election.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a $95 billion foreign aid package on April 20th, including $26.4 billion in military aid to Israel to help it respond to its conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Around that time, there were ongoing pro-Palestinian student protests at Columbia University in New York. Hundreds of students occupied the campus for several days, protesting against U.S. support for Israel and expressing support for Hamas.

In intense campus protest activities on April 21st, a prominent rabbi at Columbia University urged Jewish students to leave the campus for their safety. The rabbi is a respected scholar and preacher in the Jewish community.

According to CNN reports, the rabbi told Jewish students in a WhatsApp message, “What we have witnessed on and around campus is terrible and tragic. In recent days, especially last night’s events, clearly demonstrate that the public security at Columbia University and the New York Police Department cannot guarantee the safety of Jewish students.”

“I am deeply saddened to say that I strongly recommend that you go home as soon as possible and stay there until the situation on and around campus significantly improves. Ensuring our safety on campus is not our responsibility as Jewish people. No one should endure this level of hatred, let alone in a school,” the rabbi added.

In response to the anti-Semitic violence on the Columbia University campus, Biden issued a statement on the evening of the 21st, stating, “Silence is complicity. Even in recent days, we have seen harassment and violent acts against Jews. Such blatant anti-Semitism is condemnable and dangerous—it has no place on university campuses or anywhere in our country.”

Biden also expressed steadfast support for Israel and the Jewish people, stating, “My commitment to the security of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and the right of Israel to exist as an independent Jewish state is unwavering.”

Just hours earlier, the White House also issued its own statement condemning the violence on the Columbia University campus and the “intimidation of Jewish students and the Jewish community.”

White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement, “While every American has the right to peaceful protest, calls for violence and intimidation against Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatant anti-Semitism, unreasonable, and dangerous—they have absolutely no place on any university campus or anywhere in the United States.”

Videos circulated on social media during those days showed pro-Palestinian activists telling Jewish students, “October 7 will be your every day.”

On October 7 last year, Hamas, ruling the Gaza Strip, launched a comprehensive sudden attack on Israel, resulting in at least 1,400 Israelis and other nationals killed, and at least 200 Israeli civilians and captives taken hostage by Hamas. Israel declared war on Hamas the same day, vowing to eradicate the group. Hamas is recognized as one of the terrorist organizations by the United States and the international community.

Bates also stated in the White House statement, “Echoing terrorist organizations’ rhetoric, especially after the most serious slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust, is despicable. We condemn these statements in the strongest terms.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged pro-Hamas students at Columbia University to reclaim their “humanity.”

In his statement, Biden also pointed out that the Passover holiday is approaching, which is a particularly difficult time for Jewish people who are still facing the tragedy of October 7th.

This year’s Passover holiday starts on April 22nd and lasts until April 30th. Passover is one of the significant Jewish holidays, commemorating the miracle of God freeing the Israelites from slavery to the Egyptians.

Biden said, “My administration will continue to speak out and actively implement the nation’s first-ever national strategy to combat anti-Semitism, with the federal government fully committed to protecting the Jewish community.”

Last Wednesday, three days before the Congress was expected to vote on a package of legislation, including the Israeli aid package, dozens of pro-Palestinian students at Columbia University set up dozens of tents on campus without permission to protest against the Biden administration’s support for Israel and urge Congress not to vote for the Israeli aid package.

The protesters’ slogans included: “Al-Qassam, you make us proud, kill another soldier.” Al-Qassam is a military faction of Hamas.

“We say justice, you say how? Turn Tel Aviv into rubble!” Tel Aviv is Israel’s second-largest city and a hub for its economy, commerce, and culture.

“Hamas, we love you. We also support your rockets.” During the ambush on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched at least 3,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik authorized the New York City Police Department to help remove the protesters’ tents on Thursday, April 18th.

Shafik said in a statement, “Out of high concern for the safety of Columbia University’s campus, I have authorized the New York Police Department to begin the removal of the camp on the southern lawn of the Morningside campus set up by students in the early hours of Wednesday. The current camp violates all new policies, severely disrupting campus life and creating a harassing and intimidating environment for many of our students.”

On Friday, April 19th, police took action to evict the protesting students and arrested 113 students who were charged with “unlawful entry for protest activities.”

Among the arrested students was Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar from Minnesota. The 21-year-old Hirsi was also suspended from Barnard College, where she is enrolled at Columbia University.

However, the protest activities at Columbia University have not subsided, and even dozens of faculty and staff joined the protesting students on Monday, April 22nd, shouting slogans together.

Due to the continuing unrest and heightened concerns for the safety of Jewish students on campus, Columbia University President Shafik announced earlier in the day that the entire school would transition to online classes and remote work.

Meanwhile, inspired by the Columbia University students, similar campus protest activities have emerged at New York University, Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Miami University in Ohio, University of California, Berkeley, and many other schools across the United States. Yale, MIT, and Columbia University are renowned Ivy League institutions in the United States.

Despite opposition from political leaders of both parties and members of Congress, these anti-Jewish protests have occurred and spread.

The Connecticut police reported that dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested by Yale University police on Monday, April 22nd. The New Haven police stated in a release that, at Yale University, “about 45 people refused to leave and were charged by Yale officers with a Level 1 misdemeanor for unlawful entry. They were transported to a facility of the Yale police, processed there, and released.”

After the wave of arrests, “a group of around 200 protesters returned” and blocked an intersection.

By late Monday, it was reported that over 350 protesters had blocked the intersection of Grove Street and College Street.

The campus of the University of California, Berkeley, was in turmoil. Berkeley students had been at the forefront of anti-Israel activities even before October 7 last year. They had established a chapter of the “Students for Justice in Palestine” student network years ago, and this student organization is now present on many campuses across the United States.

Berkeley’s “Students for Justice in Palestine” posted a quote on social media from the late George Habash, founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, who was involved in hijacking incidents.

One of Habash’s most infamous quotes was: “Killing a Jew far from the battlefield is more effective than killing 100 Jews in combat.”

President Biden made his first public address on the anti-Jewish and anti-Israel protests on college campuses on April 22nd. While condemning the anti-Semitic protests, he also expressed sympathy for the Palestinians.

Returning from an Earth Day commemoration speech, Biden told reporters, “I condemn anti-Semitic protests, which is why I have devised a plan to address this issue. I also condemn those who do not understand what is happening to the Palestinians.”

When asked about whether the Columbia University president should resign, Biden said he was not sure and added, “I need to learn more about the situation.”

Biden’s remarks seemed to be an elaboration of his statement from the previous day. His statement on the 21st did not address the Palestinian issue or the situation in Gaza.

Critics of those protesting Israel’s actions against Hamas in Gaza pointed out that the White House’s condemnation was one-sided. They noted that Biden rarely mentioned the Palestinians and their suffering in his similar statements during the initial weeks and months of the Gaza conflict. Biden’s latest comments on the 22nd seemed to be a response to their concerns.

Despite Biden’s efforts in recent months to better balance his responses to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and increasing his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to gain the support of pro-Palestinian American voters, this has also put Biden at risk of losing support from American Jews.

It is noteworthy that some Jewish students have also participated in the protest activities on university campuses, expressing dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Recently, Iran has also become directly involved in clashes with Israel, raising concerns that the conflict between Israel and Hamas may escalate into a broader conflict across the entire Middle East region. This escalating conflict is evidently a political headache for the Biden administration, particularly as it could impact Biden’s approval ratings.

Due to frustration over the Gaza war and Biden’s indecisiveness in calling for a truce, young voters have shown discontent towards Biden, as reflected in polls. Former President Trump is undermining Biden’s lead among young people.

According to the latest Harvard Youth Poll released on April 18th, among those aged 18 to 29, Biden leads Trump by 45% to 37%, with 16% undecided. This 8-point lead is significantly smaller than the figure from the 2020 election. At that time, Biden led Trump by 23 percentage points among young people.

When the poll is limited to registered voters and potential voters, Biden’s lead widens somewhat. However, among potential voters under the age of 30, Biden has a 19-point lead over Trump, though this is still considerably reduced from the 30-point lead four years ago.

Biden holds a substantial lead among non-white and female potential voters, surpassing Trump by 43 percentage points and 33 percentage points, respectively. Biden also leads Trump significantly among educated individuals, with a 47-point lead among college graduates and a 23-point lead among college students.

In other key demographic categories, Biden’s lead is much smaller or non-existent. The poll indicates that among potential young male voters, Biden only leads Trump by 6 percentage points; among white voters, Biden leads Trump by only 3 percentage points; and among young people without a college degree, Biden and Trump are neck and neck.

The poll also shows that while fewer young people support Trump compared to those supporting Biden, the enthusiasm of Trump’s young voters far exceeds that of Biden’s. Over three-quarters of Trump voters say they enthusiastically support him, compared to only 44% of Biden voters.

John Della Volpe, the director of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics poll on youth voters, and an expert on young voters’ polls, said, “Undoubtedly, this is different from the young voters we saw in 2020 and 2022, and the motivations of young voters are different.”

“Economic issues are the primary concern, housing is a major issue, and the political preferences between young men and young women are quite clear,” he noted.

Biden’s job approval rate among young people is only 31%, according to the poll.

The poll also reveals factors that could be worrisome for Trump. If Trump were to be convicted in any criminal trial, Biden’s overall lead would increase. His support among all young people would rise by 10 percentage points, by 8 percentage points among registered voters, and by 9 percentage points among potential voters.

However, the entry of third-party candidates could erode Biden’s advantage. If Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Cornel West, and Jill Stein appear on the ballot, they could potentially attract some of Biden’s potential voters.

The Harvard Youth Poll is the latest survey indicating Trump’s rise among young voters nationwide, serving as a potential warning sign for Democrats, as Democratic presidential candidates have long been successful in appealing to this demographic.

However, in addition to inflation, which particularly burdens young people, Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war is also causing him to lose support among young voters. If the anti-Jewish protests on university campuses intensify, this could also pose another concern for the 2024 election.