WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Across the U.S. antiwar protests on college campuses are causing controversy.
Lawmakers are split in their reactions to the demonstrations and their views on how to handle them.
The protests range from marches to encampments with a lot of emotion coming from students as they try to make their viewpoints heard about the global conflict.
On the Hill Sunday Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) raised concerns about the protests.
“It’s a great American value to protest, but I don’t believe living in a pup tent for Hamas is really helpful,” said Fetterman.
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called the situation dangerous.
“There’s also antisemitism, which is completely unacceptable,” McConnell said.
Many students are demanding their universities cut ties with Israel and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said they’re raising legitimate concerns about the death toll of Palestinians and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“When you make those charges that’s not antisemitic that is a reality,” Sanders said.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said he supports students demonstrating peacefully.
“95% of the young people who are on these campuses are there because they believe there’s a fundamental Injustice being perpetrated,” Murphy said.
Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio.) says while students do have a right to protest, “They do not have the right to set up tent cities on our public spaces and turn our cities into garbage dumps that that is what I think we should not allow,”
Some college campuses have used law enforcement to break up the protests and hundreds have been arrested but Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) warned against escalating the response.
“The National Guard going to college campuses Kent State and elsewhere did not end well, and I think that would be a very very bad idea,” said Kaine.
The protests and encampments could disrupt upcoming graduation ceremonies happening at many colleges at least one has already been cancelled.