Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), who is supporting President Biden for reelection, stated that Biden is focused on ensuring fair consequences for student protesters.
During an interview on NewsNation’s “The Hill on Sunday,” Chris Stirewalt asked McClellan how Biden was managing the conflicting opinions within his base regarding the student protesters.
“I think the President is focused on finding the right balance between safeguarding the students' freedom of speech and right to peacefully assemble, and enforcing the laws,” McClellan said, adding, “When laws are broken, there needs to be consequences.”
“But he’s also focused on making sure those consequences are fair. He’s also very focused on ensuring that the cause for the protests is resolved, and that includes working to resolve the conflict in the Middle East,” she said.
McClellan’s statements reflect those of President Biden's remarks last week, when he mentioned in a prepared statement, “In moments like this, there are always those who rush in to score political points. But this isn’t a moment for politics. It’s a moment for clarity. So let me be clear … Violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is.”
“Destroying property is not a peaceful protest, it’s against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduation. None of this is a peaceful protest, threatening people, intimidating people,” Biden said, adding, “Dissent is essential to democracy, but dissent must never lead to disorder.”
McClellan also made a comparison between Biden’s response and what she presumed would have been former President Trump’s. She mentioned reports that Trump inquired with authorities during the George Floyd demonstrations if they could “just shoot them in the legs or something,” according to an excerpt from former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper’s book.
“But I would point out that the former president, when he was dealing with protests in cities and college campuses, asked his Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff if they can just shoot the protesters,” McClellan said. “And I think he has made clear if he were president right now, he would not strike that balance. He would err on the side of authoritarian, overstepping and squashing free speech and assembly.”
In response to this, a spokesperson for Trump stated he has “never heard of” the Virginia congresswoman before.
