Invoking the “free country” defense, the White House brushed aside serious concerns about potential enemies already within the United States in a smackdown of proactive security.
The new flavor of “peaceful protest” posed little apparent concern to President Joe Biden’s administration amid rising calls to deport foreign nationals outspoken in their support for Hamas. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby presented as much during Monday’s White House press briefing when confronted on widespread rallies, particularly on college campuses.
“There’s been an uptick on the right among some Republicans who have called for students or foreign nationals who are demonstrating in some of these pro-Palestine demonstrations or, you know, allegedly pro-Hamas demonstrations to have their student visas pulled or to face deportation,” a member of the press began before asking the spokesman, “What is the administration’s remark — response to those kinds of remarks and that kind of rhetoric? Is that an overreaction?”
Of little surprise from the administration that has allowed for national sovereignty to go by the wayside in favor of open border policies that have resulted in skyrocketing encounters with people on the terror watchlist, Kirby asserted, “That…I would just tell you that you don’t have to agree with every sentiment that is expressed in a free country like this to — to stand by the — the idea — the First Amendment and the idea of peaceful protest. I’ll leave it at that.”
His own denials were matched by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre who at the same briefing contended “we have not seen any credible threats” while attempting to present security concerns as little more than Islamophobia.
“But look, Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim have endured a disproportionate number of hate-fueled attacks. And certainly, President Biden understands that many of our Muslim, Arab American and Palestinian American loved ones and neighbors are worried about the hate being directed at their communities — that is something you heard the president speak to in his address just last Thursday,” said Jean-Pierre.
Meanwhile, legislators have demanded to know how the Department of Justice is treating the rampant demonstrations on college campuses and in city streets they have presented as “violent threats made by pro-Hamas” protesters.
“We are writing to express the very disheartening and concerning reports of public rallies in support of Hamas, which is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the federal government,” a letter from several dozen lawmakers read. “Since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, our country has seen rallies of support for Hamas, violence directed at Jewish Americans, and anti-Semitic vandalism in cities and college campuses across the nation.”
GOP lawmakers demand Garland explain how DOJ is addressing ‘pro-Hamas’ activity in the USA https://t.co/pAPos3t6Eu via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) October 21, 2023
Considering the fervor with which the DOJ had pursued concerned parents simply attending school board meetings, one might believe at least the same attention would be warranted in addressing more encounters with suspected terrorists at the border than in the previous six years combined.
FBI terror watch list border crossings in FY23 highest ever – higher than last 6 years combined https://t.co/DJNVjHtK9L via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) October 22, 2023
The right’s coalescence around this safety concern saw actor James Woods sharing a message from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on how critical taking action toward national security was in the upcoming election. The governor had remarked throughout the previous week, that “as president, if you’re on a student visa and you’re a foreigner and you’re out there celebrating terrorism, I’m canceling your visa and I’m sending you home.”
Woods took to X Sunday and captioned the statement, “I don’t care who you favor for president, he or she better be saying exactly this. Nothing less.”
I don’t care who you favor for president, he or she better be saying exactly this. Nothing less. https://t.co/ATa0DNUK6v
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) October 22, 2023
Further on, Kirby added to concerns about the administration’s seriousness in addressing the threat of Hamas by asserting humanitarian aid being sent into Gaza was being monitored by “trusted partners on the ground, including the U.N.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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