AOC praises pro-Palestinian protesters causing chaos with tent camps at Columbia and Yale as she introduces Biden, who says: 'Listen to that lady'
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez opened at a White House Earth Day event and applauded the 'leadership' of pro-Palestinian protesters on campuses
By Nikki Schwab
Daily Mail
Apr 22, 2024
Biden and AOC at the White House Earth Day event
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez applauded pro-Palestinian protesters Monday as she opened for President Joe Biden at an Earth Day event in Virginia.
AOC and fellow progressives, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey, were tapped to be the opening act at an event in which the president announced an expansion of the American Climate Corps, a green jobs training program, and more money toward residential solar panels.
When it was Ocasio-Cortez's turn to speak she noted that Biden's federal investment in climate change came about due to the 'power of organizing' - bringing together 'young people, climate advocates, labor organizers and working people of all backgrounds.'
'It is especially important that we remember the power of young people shaping this country today, of all days, as we once again witness the leadership of those peaceful student-led protests on campuses like Columbia and Yale and Berkeley and many others,' Ocasio-Cortez said.
Moments later, Biden came onstage and commended AOC, telling the crowd, 'You know, I learned a long time ago - listen to that lady, listen to that lady.'
'You know, I learned a long time ago - listen to that lady, listen to that lady,' President Joe Biden (left) told the Earth Day crowd about AOC (right). He also said, 'We're going to talk more about another part of the world too real quickly' - a hint they would talk about the Middle East
President Joe Biden (center) at an Earth Day event in Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia alonsgide (from left) Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Za’Nyia Kelly and Sen. Ed Markey
'We're going to talk more about another part of the world too real quickly,' he said - a hint they would talk about the Middle East after the official program ended.
Biden and the New York Democrat could be seen huddling afterward and also holding hands as they walked offstage.
Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders and Markey rode Marine One back to the White House with Biden and headed into the Oval Office.
The president and the so-called Squad, which includes AOC, haven't seen eye to eye on the topic of Israel in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas terror attack.
Fellow Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar's daughter Isra Hirsi was arrested and then later suspended for taking part in anti-Israel demonstrations on Columbia's campus, which have gone on for days.
Last week more than 100 students were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday for participating in sit-ins but by Friday students had returned to their 'Gaza solidarity camp.'
While Ocasio-Cortez lauded student demonstrators - over the weekend protesters on and off Columbia's campus veered into antisemitic territory.
President Joe Biden (right) took the trio of lawmakers home with him. He walked into the Oval Office alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders (center) and followed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) and Sen. Ed Markey (not pictured)
On Friday defiant Columbia students returned to the outdoor 'Gaza solidarity camp' despite more than 100 arrests Wednesday and Thursday at the campus sit-ins
Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar was arrested and then suspended for participating in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University
Jewish students reported being told to 'go back to Poland' and 'stop killing children,' according to a letter shared on social media by a top on-campus Jewish group.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates condemned the actions of these protesters.
'While every American has the right to peaceful protest, calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable and dangerous,' Bates said in a statement.
Early Monday Columbia President Nemat 'Minouche' Shafik announced that classes would be held virtually, as a campus rabbi encouraged Jewish students to return home for their safety.
'I condemn the antisemitic protests. That's why I have set up a program to deal with that,' Biden told reporters as he left Virginia.
'I also condemn those who don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians,' the president also offered.
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