Americans 'have every right' to demonstrate, says US of pro-Palestine campus protests

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US State Department said on Monday Americans have "every right" to demonstrate as pro-Palestine protests have intensified across the US university campuses in recent weeks.

Speaking at his daily press briefing, Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel said it is something that is in consistent with the first amendment, adding: "Certainly, people have every right to do so".

"We encourage people to do so in a peaceful and non-violent way," Patel said in response to a question by Anadolu reporter.

When asked whether the US policy be changed or affected by the protests, Patel said the "only metric" in its decision making process is what is in the best interests of the American people and what keeps Americans safer.

"In our point of view, more humanitarian aid is good for the United States," Patel said. "The defeat of Hamas is good for the United States, ensuring that Gaza can no longer be a springboard for terrorism is also good for the United States, and a two-state solution that brings about greater peace, and stability, and integration in the Middle East region is also good for the United States."

White House also echoed the view of State Department.

"We're going to continue to say all Americans have the right to peacefully protest," Spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told a briefing.

When asked about possible suspensions or expulsions for student protestors, Jean-Pierre said it is up to the leadership of their universities and colleges.

Hundreds of students have been arrested on campuses across the US with protests demanding universities divest from Israel and condemn its ongoing war on the besieged Gaza Strip where over 34,400 people have been killed.