Al Sharpton said on Thursday that the pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses are similar to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, and he accused Democrats of having a double standard regarding the demonstrations.
Sharpton stated on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that when the protest itself becomes less important than the actions taken during the protest, it detracts from the cause being protested.
Sharpton also expressed concern that the demonstrations have shifted focus from the cause they represent to the individuals involved, prompting him to question how Democrats and others can denounce the January 6 events while similar situations occur on college campuses.
Numerous students and faculty have protested on college campuses nationwide, urging a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and for universities and the United States to cut ties with Israel.
The protests were mainly peaceful but reached a critical point this week when protesters seized a building at Columbia University, leading to intervention by the New York Police Department. break up The demonstrations.
On the west coast, counter protesters at the University of California, Los Angeles tried to forcibly dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment, resulting in violent clashes on Tuesday night. Police entered the removed the encampment early Thursday and began taking down tents after warning of possible arrests.
Sharpton argued that the true message of the protests is getting obscured by the turmoil.
Sharpton suggested that the sincerity of the protestors should be scrutinized to determine whether they are genuinely focusing on the situation in Gaza and Israel or if their actions are overshadowing the real issues. He suggested that external influences may have led to the protests losing their intended message.
Sharpton is not the first to draw the comparison between the student protestors and those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Former President Trump this week questioned if the Columbia University students who took over the building will face similar consequences to those who have been charged in the Capitol insurrection.
Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the country is in uproar over the events at colleges, specifically referencing the incident at Columbia University and wondering if the consequences for those involved will be as severe as for those in the January 6 riot.
He emphasized the significance of the building takeover and expressed concern about the potential impact on the individuals involved.
Numerous individuals have been criminally charged in relation to the Capitol insurrection. Trump himself is facing federal charges in Washington, D.C., regarding his purported efforts to undermine the election and stay in control.
