LIVE: Student protests, Gaza, and the humanitarian disaster
Summary
TLDRIn a passionate speech, the Senator from Vermont emphasizes the importance of the First Amendment rights, particularly the right to protest, as a cornerstone of American freedom. He pays tribute to civil rights activist John Lewis and condemns violence on campuses, regardless of the cause. The Senator strongly criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's equating of criticism with anti-Semitism, asserting that highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the impact of Israeli policies on civilians is not anti-Semitic but a factual necessity. He calls for accountability and a reevaluation of the U.S.'s support for Israel, citing recent polls that show a significant portion of Americans support a ceasefire and are against sending weapons to Israel. The Senator urges the media and Congress to focus on the real violence and suffering in Gaza rather than solely on domestic protests.
Takeaways
- 📜 The Senator from Vermont, Mr. Sanders, emphasized the importance of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the freedom of speech, religion, and the right to assemble.
- 🕊️ Mr. Sanders honored the late Congressman John Lewis for his significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting his numerous arrests for protesting segregation and racism.
- 🚫 He condemned any form of violence on campuses, including those committed by individuals supporting or opposing Israel's war policies.
- 🌎 Sanders highlighted the American tradition of protesting injustice and expressing opinions, which is a fundamental part of American freedom.
- ⏳ He drew attention to the 60th anniversary of student demonstrators occupying a building at Columbia University, linking past anti-war protests to current events.
- 🇮🇱 Sanders criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for its actions against Palestinians, arguing that criticizing these actions is not anti-Semitic.
- 🏠 He detailed the destruction of housing units, healthcare systems, universities, and civilian infrastructure in Gaza due to the Israeli government's policies.
- 🤔 Sanders questioned the media's focus on campus protests rather than the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, urging for more coverage of the latter.
- 📊 He cited recent polls indicating that a majority of Americans support a ceasefire, do not wish to send weapons to Israel, and disapprove of the U.S. government's policy on Israel and Gaza.
- 💵 The Senator reminded the Senate of its recent decision to provide $10 billion in unvetted military aid to Israel, suggesting it's time to rethink this decision.
- ✊ In conclusion, Mr. Sanders called for accountability of Netanyahu's government for their actions and argued against the distraction of accusations of anti-Semitism.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the speech by the Senator from Vermont?
-The main topic of the speech is the importance of the right to protest as part of American freedom, as protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and the Senator's concern about the U.S. government's support for Israel's policies towards Palestine.
What does the Senator emphasize about the First Amendment?
-The Senator emphasizes that the First Amendment protects the freedom of speech, religion, and the right to peaceably assemble for the redress of grievances, which includes the right to protest.
How does the Senator remember the late Congressman John Lewis?
-The Senator remembers Congressman John Lewis for his heroic role in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting his numerous arrests for protests against segregation and racism.
What historical protests does the Senator mention?
-The Senator mentions the lunch counter protests at Woolworth and elsewhere, protests against sexism and homophobia, and protests against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What is the Senator's stance on violence during protests?
-The Senator condemns all forms of violence during protests, whether by those supporting or opposing Israel's war policies, and emphasizes that violence has no place on college campuses or anywhere else.
What does the Senator say about the growth of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the U.S.?
-The Senator expresses concern about the growth of both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the U.S., stating that these forms of bigotry must be condemned and eliminated.
How does the Senator respond to the Israeli Prime Minister's statement equating criticism of his government with anti-Semitism?
-The Senator strongly disagrees with the Israeli Prime Minister's statement, arguing that pointing out the consequences of the government's actions in Gaza does not make one anti-Semitic, but rather is a factual representation of the situation.
What recent Senate vote does the Senator reference?
-The Senator references a recent Senate vote to provide an additional $10 billion in unvetted military aid to Israel.
What does the Senator suggest regarding the U.S. Congress's decision on military aid to Israel?
-The Senator suggests that it may be time for the U.S. Congress to rethink their decision to provide additional military aid to Israel, considering the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and the will of the American people.
What does the Senator request from the media?
-The Senator requests the media to shift their focus from the protests on American college campuses to the violence and suffering in Gaza, showing the real impact of the policies on the Palestinian people.
What is the Senator's final message to Congress?
-The Senator's final message is that it is incomprehensible that many members of Congress are attacking protesters rather than addressing the Israeli government's actions, which have caused the protests and the horrific situation in Gaza.
Outlines
📜 Upholding the First Amendment and Honoring Civil Rights Heroes
The speaker begins by reminding the audience of the importance of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects the freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. The Senator from Vermont also pays tribute to the late Congressman John Lewis for his significant role in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting his numerous arrests in the fight against segregation and racism. The paragraph emphasizes the American tradition of protesting injustice and the constitutional right to do so.
🕊️ Denouncing Violence and Bigotry in All Forms
The speaker expresses concern over violence on college campuses and condemns specific acts of violence, such as the window breaking at Columbia University and the attack on a peaceful antiwar encampment at UCLA. The paragraph also addresses the broader issues of increasing anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the country, urging for their condemnation and eradication. The Senator refutes the notion that being pro-Palestinian equates to being pro-Hamas and criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's equation of criticism of his government's policies with anti-Semitism.
🏡 The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and the Destruction of Infrastructure
The paragraph details the devastating impact of the Israeli government's actions in Gaza, highlighting the large number of civilian casualties, most of whom are women and children. The Senator condemns the destruction of housing units, the annihilation of Gaza's healthcare system, the destruction of educational institutions, and the obliteration of civilian infrastructure, which has led to a humanitarian disaster. The speaker emphasizes that pointing out these facts is not anti-Semitic but rather a call for accountability and an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
🤝 American Public Opinion and the Call for a Ceasefire
The Senator discusses public opinion polls that indicate a majority of Americans support a ceasefire and disapprove of sending weapons and supplies to Israel. The paragraph points out that the American people, regardless of political affiliation, do not wish to be complicit in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The speaker calls for the U.S. Congress to listen to the American people and reconsider its decision to provide additional military aid to Israel.
🌎 Redirecting Media Focus and Holding the Israeli Government Accountable
The final paragraph calls for a shift in media focus from protests on American college campuses to the violence and suffering in Gaza. The Senator criticizes members of Congress for attacking protesters rather than addressing the issues caused by the Israeli government's policies. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need to hold the Israeli government accountable for its actions, especially in light of the U.S.'s significant financial support to Israel.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡First Amendment
💡Civil Rights Movement
💡Protesting
💡Vietnam War
💡Anti-Semitism
💡Islamophobia
💡Humanitarian Disaster
💡Military Aid
💡Netanyahu
💡Hamas
💡Media Bias
Highlights
Senator from Vermont reminds colleagues about the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, emphasizing the rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.
Honors the late Congressman John Lewis for his role in the Civil Rights Movement and his numerous arrests protesting segregation and racism.
Highlights the importance of protests in American history, including those against sexism, homophobia, and for environmental causes.
Condemns violence on campuses, including the specific incidents at Columbia University and UCLA.
Addresses the growth of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in the U.S., urging condemnation and action against all forms of bigotry.
Clarifies that supporting Palestinian rights does not equate to supporting terrorism, rejecting attempts to conflate the two.
Criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's equating of criticism of his government's policies with anti-Semitism as outrageous.
Provides statistics on the casualties and destruction caused by the Israeli government's actions in Gaza, emphasizing that acknowledging these facts is not anti-Semitic.
Condemns the destruction of Gaza's healthcare system, universities, and civilian infrastructure by the Israeli government.
Argues against the blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the resulting humanitarian disaster.
Expresses concern over the U.S. government's support and funding of the Israeli government's actions, despite American public opinion polls showing support for a ceasefire and decreased military aid.
Suggests that the U.S. Congress should listen to the American people and rethink its decision to provide additional military aid to Israel.
Implores media to shift focus from campus protests to the violence and suffering in Gaza, urging them to show the true extent of the humanitarian crisis.
Questions why Congress is focusing on attacking protesters rather than addressing the actions of the Israeli government that have led to these protests.
Calls for accountability of Netanyahu and his government for their actions, asserting that doing so is not anti-Semitic but a moral imperative.
Urges for a broader perspective on the situation, asking for a more balanced media coverage and a more compassionate approach from the U.S. government.
Transcripts
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
MR. SANDERS: MR. PRESIDENT, SOME
OF US HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL
FOR A WHILE AND WE MAY HAVE
FORGOTTEN OUR AMERICAN HISTORY,
BUT I DID WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT
TO REMIND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES
ABOUT A DOCUMENT CALLED THE U.S.
CONST
CONSTITUTION, AND SPECIFICALLY
THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THAT
CONSTITUTION.
SO FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE
FORG
FORGOTTEN, HERE IS WHAT THE
FIRST AMENDMENT SAYS.
QUOTE, CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO
LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT
OF RELIGION OR PROHIBITING THE
FREE EXERCISE THEREOF OR
ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH
OR THE RIGHT FOR PEOPLE TO
PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE FOR A
REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
END OF QUOTE.
FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
LET ME ALSO, MR. PRESIDENT, TAKE
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER OUR
LATE COLLEAGUE, THE FORMER
CONGRESSWOMAN JOHN LEWIS FOR HIS
HEROIC ROLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT.
I KNOW IT'S VERY EASY TO HEAP
PRAISE ON CONGRESSMAN LOUIS AND
MANY OTHERS DECADES AFTER THEY
DID -- LEWIS AND MANY OTHERS
DECADES AFTER THEY DID WHAT THEY
DID, BUT CONGRESSMAN LEWIS WAS
ARRESTED 45 TIMES FOR SIT INS
AND PROTESTS, 45 TIMES FOR
PROTESTING SEGREGATION AND
RACISM.
I WOULD REMIND MY COLLEAGUES
THAT THE LUNCH COUNTER PROTEST
AT WOOLWORTH AND WELL WHERE --
AND ELSEWHERE WERE IN FACT SIT
INS AND OCCUPATIONS WHERE YOUNG
BLACK AND WHITE AMERICANS
BRAVELY TOOK UP SPACE IN PRIVATE
BUSINESSES DEMANDING AN END TO
THE RACISM AND SEGREGATION THAT
EXISTED AT THAT TIME.
FURTHER, AS I HOPE EVERYBODY
KNOWS, WE HAVE ALSO SEEN IN
RECENT DECADES PROTESTS, SOME OF
THEM MASSIVE PROTESTS, AGAINST
SEXISM, AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, AND
THE NEED TO TRANSFORM OUR ENERGY
SYSTEM AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUEL IN
ORDER TO SAVE THIS PLANET.
IN OTHER WORDS, PROTESTING
INJUSTICE AND EXPRESSING OUR
OPINIONS IS PART OF OUR AMERICAN
TRADITION.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AMERICA
BEING A FREE COUNTRY, WELL, YOU
KNOW WHAT, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT
OR NOT, THE RIGHT TO PROTEST IS
WHAT AMERICAN FREEDOM IS ALL
ABOUT.
THAT'S THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME ALSO
REMIND YOU THAT EXACTLY 60 YEARS
AGO, IRONICALLY, EXACTLY 60
YEARS AGO, STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS
OCCUPIED THE EXACT SAME BUILDING
ON COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S CAMPUS
AS IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW.
IRONICALLY THE SAME BUILDING 60
YEARS AGO.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY STUDENTS AND
OTHERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, I
WOULD SAY, JOINED PEACEFUL
DEMONSTRATIONS IN OPPOSITION TO
THE WAR IN VIETNAM.
THOSE DEMONSTRATORS WERE
DEMANDING AN END TO THAT WAR AND
MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN LIVES AND
COUNTLESS A VOTVIETNAMESE LIVEST
HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THE
GOVERNMENT AT THAT -- VIETNAMESE
IF THE GOVERNMENT AT THAT TIME
LISTENED TO THE DEMO I MIGHT AL
PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME, A GREAT
PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME, LYNDON
JOHNSON, CHOSE NOT TO RUN FOR
PRESIDENT DUE TO THE OPPOSITION
OF HIM FROM THE VIETNAM WAR.
FURTHER, NOT US -- LET US NOT
FORGET THOSE WHO PROTESTED
AGAINST THE FAILED WARS IN IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN.
MAYBE THOSE PROTESTORS SHOULD
HAVE BEEN LISTENED TO AS WELL.
SHOCKABLE SHOCKS, GOVERNMENT'S
POLICY IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I NOTED RECENTLY
THAT A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES
IN BOTH PARTIES, NOT JUST THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY BUT THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS WELL, AS
WELL AS MANY NEWS REPORTERS, TV,
NEWSPAPERS, THEY ARE VERY
CONCERNED -- VERY, VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROTESTS AND
VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING ON
CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO LET ME BE VERY CLEAR.
I SHARE THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT
VIOLENCE ON CAMPUS, OR FOR THAT
MATTER ANY PLACE ELSE, AND I
CONDEMN THOSE WHO THREW A BRICK
THROUGH A WINDOW AT COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY.
THAT KIND OF VIOLENCE SHOULD NOT
BE TAKING PLACE ON COLLEGE
CAMPUSES.
I ALSO AM CONCERNED AND CONDEMN
THE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AT UCLA
IN CALIFORNIA WHO VIOLENTLY
ATTACKED THE PEACEFUL ENCAMPMENT
OF ANTIWAR DEMONSTRATORS ON THE
CAMPUS OF UCLA.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME BE
CLEAR.
I CONDEMN ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE
ON CAMPUS WHETHER THEY ARE
COMMITTED BY PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT
ISRAEL'S WAR POLICIES OR BY
PEOPLE WHO OPPOSE THOSE
POLICIES.
FURTHER, I WOULD HOPE THAT ALL
OF US CAN AGREE THAT IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ALL
FORMS OF BIGOTRY MUST BE
CONDEMNED AND ELIMINATED.
WE ARE SEEING A GROWTH OF
ANTI-SEMITISM IN THIS COUNTRY,
WHICH WE MUST ALL CONDEMN AND
WORK TO STOP.
WE ARE ALSO SEEING A GROWTH OF
ISLAMAPHOBIA IN THIS COUNTRY,
WHICH WE MUST ALL CONDEMN AND
STOP.
AND IN THAT REGARD, MR.
PRESIDENT, I WOULD MENTION THAT
IN MY VERY OWN CITY OF
BURLINGTON, VERMONT, THREE
WONDERFUL YOUNG PALESTINIAN
STUDENTS WERE SHOT AT CLOSE
RANGE ON NOVEMBER 25 OF LAST
YEAR.
THEY WERE VISITING A FAMILY
MEMBER TO CELEBRATE
THANKSGIVING, WALKING DOWN THE
STREET, AND THEY WERE SHOT.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME MAKE
AN ADDITIONAL POINT.
I HAVE NOTED THAT THERE IS AN
INCREASING TENDENCY IN THE MEDIA
AND ON THE PART OF SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE SENATE TO
USE THE WORD -- THE PHRASE
PRO-PALESTINIAN TO SUGGEST THAT
THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE
PRO-PALESTINIAN ARE PRO-HAMAS.
TO MY MIND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE
AND IT IS FACTUALLY INACCURATE.
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND PROTESTORS,
UNDERSTAND THAT HAMAS IS A
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION THAT
STARTED THIS WAR BY ATTACKING
ISRAEL IN AN INCORRECTABLY
BRUTAL AND HORRIFIC WAY ON
OCTOBER 7.
TO STAND UP FOR PALESTINIAN
RIGHTS AND THE DIGNITY OF THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE DOES NOT MAKE
ONE A SUPPORTER OF TERRORISM.
AND LET ME ALSO MENTION
SOMETHING THAT I FOUND RATHER
EXTRAORDINARY, AND I'VE BEEN IN
POLITICS FOR A WHILE, BUT I DID
FIND THIS ONE PARTICULARLY
EXTRAORDINARY AND OUTRAGEOUS,
AND THAT IS JUST A FEW DAYS AGO
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN
NETANYAHU, THE LEADER OF THE
RIGHT-WING EXTREMIST GOVERNMENT
IN ISRAEL, A GOVERNMENT WHICH
CONTAINS OUT AND OUT AN
ANTI-PALESTINIAN RACISTS,
NETANYAHU ISSUED A STATEMENT IN
WHICH HE EQUATED CRITICISM OF
HIS GOVERNMENT'S ILLEGAL AND
IMMORAL WAR AGAINST THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WITH
ANTI-SEMITISM.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU ARE
PROTESTING OR DISAGREE WITH WHAT
NETANYAHU AND HIS EXTREMIST
GOVERNMENT ARE DOING IN GAZA,
YOU ARE AN ANTI-SEMITE.
WELL, THAT IS AN OUT RAGEOUS
STATEMENT FROM A LEADER WHO IS
CLEARLY TRYING DO SOMETHING --
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I GUESS
HE IS SUCCEEDING WITH THE
AMERICAN MEDIA -- AND THAT IS TO
DEFLECT ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE
HORRIFIC POLICIES THAT HIS
GOVERNMENT IS PURSUING IN GAZA
WHICH HAS CREATED AN
UNPRECEDENTED HUMANITARIAN
DISASTER.
SO LET ME BE AS CLEAR AS I CAN
BE.
IT IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC OR
PRO-HAMAS TO POINT OUT THAT IN
ALMOST SEVEN MONTHS -- THE LAST
SEVEN MONTHS, NETANYAHU'S
EXTREMIST GOVERNMENT HAS KILLED
34,000 PALESTINIANS AND WOUNDED
MORE THAN 77,000.
70% OF WHOM ARE WOMEN AND
CHILDREN.
5% OF THE 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE IN
GAZA HAVE BEEN KILLED OR
INJURED, 70% OF WHOM ARE WOMEN
AND CHILDREN.
AND TO PROTEST THAT OR TO POINT
THAT OUT IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC, IT
IS SIMPLY FACTUAL.
IT IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO POINT
OUT THAT NETANYAHU'S
GOVERNMENT'S BOMBING CAMPAIGN
HAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED MORE
THAN 221,000 HOUSING UNITS IN
GAZA.
SO OVER 60% OF THE HOUSING UNITS
IN GAZA HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR
DESTROYED, LEAVING MORE THAN ONE
MILLION PEOPLE HOMELESS, ABOUT
HALF THE POPULATION.
NO, MR. NETANYAHU, IT IS NOT
ANTI-SEMITIC TO POINT OUT WHAT
YOU HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF THE
DESTRUCTION OF HOUSING IN GAZA.
IT IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO
UNDERSTAND THAT NETANYAHU'S
GOVERNMENT HAS ANNIHILATED
GAZA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM,
KNOCKING 26 HOSPITALS OUT OF
SERVICE AND KILLING MORE THAN
400 HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT A
TIME WHEN 77,000 PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN WOUNDED AND DESPERATELY
NEED MEDICAL CARE, NETANYAHU'S
GOVERNMENT HAS SYSTEMATICALLY
DESTROYED THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
IN GAZA.
IT IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO
CONDEMN NETANYAHU'S GOVERNMENT
FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL OF
GAZA'S 12 UNIVERSITIES.
THEY HAD 12 UNIVERSITIES,
THEY'RE ALL DESTROYED.
IT'S NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO MAKE
THAT POINT NOR IS IT
ANTI-SEMITIC TO MAKE THE POINT
THAT 56 OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN
DESTROYED, HUNDREDS MORE HAVE
BEEN DAMAGED, AND TODAY 625,000
CHILDREN IN GAZA HAVE NO
OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EDUCATION.
IT'S NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO MAKE
THAT POINT.
IT IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO NOTE
THAT NETANYAHU'S GOVERNMENT HAS
OBLITERATED GAZA'S CIVILIAN
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO
ELECTRICITY IN GAZA RIGHT NOW,
VIRTUALLY NO CLEAN WATER IN GAZA
RIGHT NOW, AND SEWAGE IS SEEPING
OUT ON TO THE STREETS.
NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO MAKE THAT
POINT.
MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS NOT
ANTI-SEMITIC TO AGREE WITH
VIRTUALLY EVERY HUMANITARIAN
ORGANIZATION THAT FUNCTIONS IN
THE GAZA AREA.
IN SAYING THAT NETANYAHU'S
GOVERNMENT IN VIOLATION OF
AMERICAN WAR HAS UNREASONABLY
BLOCKED HUMANITARIAN AID COMING
INTO GAZA, AND THEY HAVE CREATED
THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
CHILDREN IN GAZA FACE
MALNUTRITION AND FAMINE.
IT IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO LOOK
AT PHOTOGRAPHS OF SKELETALS OF
CHILDREN WHO ARE STARVING TO
DEATH BECAUSE THEY'VE NOT BEEN
ABLE TO GET THE FOOD THAT ME
NEED.
-- THAT THEY NEED.
IT IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO AGREE
WITH AMERICAN OFFICIALS AND U.N.
OFFICIALS THAT PARTS OF GAZA
COULD BECOME FAMINE DISTRICTS IN
THE NOT VERY DISTANT FUTURE.
MR. PRESIDENT, ANTI-SEMITISM IS
A VILE AND DISGUSTING FORM OF
BIGOTRY THAT HAS DONE
UNSPEAKABLE HARM TO MANY
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FOR HUNDREDS
OF YEARS, INCLUDING MY OWN
FAMILY, I MIGHT ADD.
BUT IT IS OUTRAGEOUS, AND IT IS
DISGRACEFUL TO USE THE CHARGE OF
ANTI-SEMITISM TO DISTRACT US
FROM THE IMMORAL AND ILLEGAL WAR
POLICIES THAT NETANYAHU'S
EXTREMIST AND RACIST GOVERNMENT
IS PURSUING.
FURTHERMORE, IT IS REALLY CHEAP
POLITICS FOR NETANYAHU TO USE
THE CHARGE OF ANTI-SEMITISM TO
DEFLECT ATTENTION FROM THE
CRIMINAL INDICTMENT THAT HE IS
FACING IN ISRAELI COURTS.
BOTTOM LINE, MR. PRESIDENT, IT
IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC TO HOLD
NETANYAHU AND HIS GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
THAT IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC.
THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT WE SHOULD
BE DOING.
BECAUSE AMONG OTHER THINGS, WE
ARE THE GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD
THAT HAS SUPPLIED OVER A PERIOD
OF YEARS AND MOST RECENTLY
BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
TO NETANYAHU IN ORDER FOR HIM TO
CONTINUE HIS HORRIFIC WAR
AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD ALSO
POINT OUT THAT WHILE THERE HAS
BEEN WALL-TO-WALL TV COVERAGE OF
STUDENT PROTESTS -- I THINK
THAT'S ABOUT ALL CNN DOES NOW --
I SHOULD MENTION IT IS NOT JUST
YOUNG PEOPLE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
THAT ARE EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT
OUR GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT AND
FUNDING FOR THIS ILLEGAL AND
IMMORAL WAR, AND I WOULD POINT
OUT THAT JUST LAST WEEK, JUST
LAST WEEK, THIS SENATE VOTED TO
GIVE NETANYAHU ANOTHER $10
BILLION OF UNVETTED MILITARY AID
TO CONTINUE HIS WAR.
BUT IT IS NOT JUST THE
PROTESTERS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
WHO DISAGREE WITH THAT DECISION.
IT IS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND LET ME JUST QUOTE FROM A FEW
POLLS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN
TAKEN.
APRIL 14, A POLL FROM "POLITICO"
MORNING CONSULT.
67% SUPPORT THE UNITED STATES
CALLING FOR A CEASE-FIRE.
THIS IS AT A TIME WHEN NETANYAHU
IS THREATENING NOW TO EXPAND THE
WAR INTO RAFAH.
APRIL 12 CBS POLL, 60% OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THINK THE U.S.
SHOULD NOT SEND WEAPONS AND
SUPPLIES TO ISRAEL AS OPPOSED TO
40% WHO THINK THE U.S. SHOULD.
AND FOR MY DEMOCRATSIC
COLLEAGUES, AS YOU WELL KNOW,
THOSE NUMBERS ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGHER AMONG
THE DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY.
APRIL 10, THE ECONOMIST POLL,
37% SUPPORT DECREASING MILITARY
AID TO ISRAEL, JUST 18% SUPPORT
AN INCREASE.
OVERALL 63% SUPPORT A
CEASE-FIRE.
15% OPPOSE.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS NOT
JUST PROTESTERS ON COLLEGE
CAMPUSES WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT
U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY REGARDING
ISRAEL AND GAZA.
INCREASINGLY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WANT AN END TO U.S. COMPLICITY
IN THE HUMANITARIAN DISASTER
WHICH IS TAKING PLACE IN GAZA
RIGHT NOW.
THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES,
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS,
INDEPENDENTS IN LARGE NUMBERS DO
NOT WANT TO BE COMPLICIT IN THE
STARVATION OF HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN.
NOW, MAYBE, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS
IS A VERY RADICAL IDEA.
HERE IS A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY
RADICAL IDEA, AND MAYBE IT'S
TIME FOR THE U.S. CONGRESS TO
LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
MAYBE IT IS TIME TO RETHINK THE
DECISION THAT THE U.S. SENATE
RECENTLY MADE TO PROVIDE
NETANYAHU WITH ANOTHER $10
BILLION IN UNVETTED MILITARY
AID.
MR. PRESIDENT, MAYBE IT IS TIME
TO NOT SIMPLY WORRY ABOUT THE
VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING ON
AMERICAN COLLEGE CAMPUSES, BUT
TO FOCUS ON THE UNPRECEDENTED
VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING IN GAZA
WHICH HAS KILLED 34,000
PALESTINIANS AND WOUNDED MORE
THAN 77,000, 70% OF WHOM ARE
WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
I SUGGEST TO CNN AND MAYBE SOME
HERE, TAKE YOUR CAMERAS FOR A
MOMENT OFF OF COLUMBIA AND UCLA.
MAYBE GO TO GAZA AND TAKE YOUR
CAMERA AND SHOW US THE EMACIATED
CHILDREN WHO ARE DYING OF
MALNUTRITION BECAUSE OF
NETANYAHU'S POLICIES.
SHOW US THE KIDS WHO HAVE LOST
THEIR ARMS AND THEIR LEGS.
SHOW US THE SUFFERING THAT IS
GOING ON OVER THERE.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME
CONCLUDE BY SAYING THIS.
I MUST ADMIT THAT I FIND IT
INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT MANY
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE SPENDING
THEIR TIME ATTACKING THE
PROTE
PROTESTERS RATHER THAN NETANYAHU
GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS CAUSED AND
BROUGHT ABOUT THESE PROTESTS AND
HAS CREATED THIS HORRIFIC
SITUATION.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
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