The College Democrats of America, the student organization of the Democratic Party, have officially endorsed pro-Palestinian campus protests and have urged President Biden to support a permanent cease-fire in Gaza.
In a statement approved by the organization’s executive board with a vote of 8 to 2, the College Democrats commended student protesters for their moral clarity in recognizing the war as destructive, genocidal, and unjust. They also criticized college administrators for suspending and involving the police in the arrests of protesters.
The statement follows two weeks of pro-Palestinian protests spreading to campuses nationwide after a police crackdown at Columbia University. Students expressing opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza have established encampments and have continued their protests even after facing suspension or arrest.
During the night from Monday to Tuesday, protesters at Columbia occupied a building on campus. Similar escalations have occurred at Portland State University and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
The statement rebuked “MAGA Republicans and many other lawmakers for unfairly labeling all protesters as hateful.” It condemned the rise in incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia, stating, “We denounce all calls for violence against Jewish and Muslim students; those spreading hate have no place in the movement for peace.” The statement emphasized that advocating for Palestinian freedom and opposing the genocidal acts of the Israeli government is not antisemitic.
The statement also criticized President Biden and other elected Democrats for not uniting behind calls for an immediate, permanent cease-fire, the release of all hostages taken by Hamas, and a swift push for a two-state solution recognizing an independent Palestinian state.
This public stance represents a significant departure for an organization that typically aligns closely with the Democratic Party and its leadership.
“As College Democrats, we are dedicated to supporting the re-election of President Biden and Democrats in all levels of government,” the statement asserted. “However, as representatives of youth nationwide, we reserve the right to critique our own party when it fails to represent the voices of young people.”
The statement continued, “As young voters, we understand that our votes in November will determine the outcome of the presidential election. The White House’s approach of supporting Netanyahu while disregarding the concerns of its base and all Americans seeking an end to the conflict is misguided.”
President Biden has called for a temporary cease-fire and expressed support for a future two-state solution. However, despite growing criticism of the Israeli government, he has not implemented significant changes to U.S. policies and continues to provide unconditional military support to Israel.
The White House, President Biden’s campaign, and the Democratic National Committee have not responded to requests for comment at this time.
Sunjay Muralitharan, the vice president of the College Democrats and a student at the University of California, San Diego, explained that the decision to issue this statement reflects a shift in the organization’s perception of its role.
“We recognize that as College Democrats, our responsibility is to represent college students to the party, rather than the other way around,” Mr. Muralitharan stated. “Currently, there is a stark divergence between young people and the Democratic Party on the Palestine/Israel issue. Across the nation, we see Joe Biden and Democrats losing support from young voters on this matter.”
The statement was primarily drafted by the organization’s Muslim Caucus. Hasan Pyarali, the caucus chairman and a senior at Wake Forest University, noted that dissatisfaction with President Biden’s Israel policy has been brewing for some time, with the recent catalyst being the intervention of Columbia administrators to disband the campus protest and arrest participants.
Mr. Pyarali, 22, emphasized that he and his colleagues are committed Democrats invested in President Biden’s electoral success and are wary of the potential consequences of him losing to former President Donald J. Trump, whom he described as a significant threat.
However, he added, “We believe it would be a disservice, not only to the Democratic Party but also to the country, to remain silent on this issue regarding the president. We hope that he listens to our concerns, as the current path he is on may not lead to victory in the upcoming election.”
