DeSantis Condemns Campus Protests and Challenges Pro-Palestinian Narratives at Notre Dame

South Bend, IN (VINnews)-Speaking at the University of Notre Dame, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis offered pointed criticism of both college campus activism and pro-Palestinian rhetoric during a speech focused on national and global political issues.

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DeSantis, a Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential race, began his remarks by touting his administration’s hardline stance against disruptive student protests on Florida’s college campuses. “If any of our universities turned into Columbia [University], the university president would lose their job the next day. It would be done. We would not ever tolerate the inmates running the asylum,” DeSantis said, referencing the student protests at Columbia University earlier this year, which called for changes to the university’s handling of Israel-Palestine issues.

The Florida governor contrasted his state’s policies with those of other institutions, noting that Florida’s universities had not been plagued by student encampments or extended protests over the Israel-Palestine conflict. This, he suggested, was a result of a zero-tolerance approach toward activism that he deemed counterproductive and disruptive.

“Challenging the ‘Occupation’ Narrative”

DeSantis also took aim at the widespread use of the term “occupation” in discussions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He argued that many who advocate for Palestinian causes do so out of ignorance, failing to understand the region’s historical context. “If you find yourself out there saying somehow ‘end occupation,’ I would just like to know when there was some type of Palestinian state,” he remarked.

DeSantis framed the call to “end occupation” as an example of the political Left’s tendency to latch onto causes without fully grasping their complexities. “I think it’s all people that don’t know their history. I think it’s kind of like the Left Wing Cause Du Jour,” he said, aligning his critique of the pro-Palestinian movement with his broader criticisms of progressive ideology.

The comments come at a time when pro-Palestinian activism on U.S. college campuses has grown, fueled in part by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. DeSantis’ stance on the issue reflects his consistent pro-Israel position, one he has held throughout his political career. He has previously signed legislation in Florida designed to crack down on anti-Israel boycotts and strengthen ties between the state and Israel.