AhlulBayt News Agency: While students and professors at American universities continue to hold protests in solidarity with Gaza, politicians from both parties in the country are trying to revive an old electoral strategy.
In 1968, conservatives in the US were able to win the presidential election by demonizing protesting students at Columbia University and several other universities, who opposed the US war in Vietnam. Both Democratic and Republican parties portrayed them as anti-law and anti-American in the public eye. Now, 56 years later, we may be witnessing a similar political trend in the upcoming US elections.
When the police were called to raid the tents of Palestine supporters on university campuses across the US, the reaction of political institutions reflected old stories and narratives of law and order, which is not surprising for those who know US history.
In 1968, Nixon tried to describe civil disobedience as a threat to the American political system, even if it was non-violent. He referred to the slogans of students opposing the US war in Vietnam, saying that chanting was a new form of violence that confused many people.
Current US President Joe Biden is also using similar rhetoric against student protests, arguing on May 5 that there is a right to protest, but not to create chaos. He insisted that students were using "violent methods".
It remains to be seen whether Republicans will succeed in the polls, but with the increasing similarity of anti-protest rhetoric from Democrats and Republicans, the trend that brought Nixon to the White House in 1968 may be repeated.
When Democrats try to show that they are tougher on protests and public disorder than conservatives, it seems that voters prefer a more conservative option, represented by Republicans.
Biden, by relying on the "law and order" slogan, is paving the way not only for the re-election of Donald Trump but also for Republican victories in gubernatorial elections.
Donald Trump, the 2024 presidential candidate, also used the atmosphere created by Biden and Democrats, saying: "To every college president, I say remove the encampments immediately,” he said. “Vanquish the radicals and take back our campuses for all of the normal students.”
As the momentum of supporting Palestine and suppressing protests grows, we are approaching one of the hot and long summers of protests and uprisings that characterized 1960s America.
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In 1968, conservatives in the US were able to win the presidential election by demonizing protesting students at Columbia University and several other universities, who opposed the US war in Vietnam. Both Democratic and Republican parties portrayed them as anti-law and anti-American in the public eye. Now, 56 years later, we may be witnessing a similar political trend in the upcoming US elections.
When the police were called to raid the tents of Palestine supporters on university campuses across the US, the reaction of political institutions reflected old stories and narratives of law and order, which is not surprising for those who know US history.
In 1968, Nixon tried to describe civil disobedience as a threat to the American political system, even if it was non-violent. He referred to the slogans of students opposing the US war in Vietnam, saying that chanting was a new form of violence that confused many people.
Current US President Joe Biden is also using similar rhetoric against student protests, arguing on May 5 that there is a right to protest, but not to create chaos. He insisted that students were using "violent methods".
It remains to be seen whether Republicans will succeed in the polls, but with the increasing similarity of anti-protest rhetoric from Democrats and Republicans, the trend that brought Nixon to the White House in 1968 may be repeated.
When Democrats try to show that they are tougher on protests and public disorder than conservatives, it seems that voters prefer a more conservative option, represented by Republicans.
Biden, by relying on the "law and order" slogan, is paving the way not only for the re-election of Donald Trump but also for Republican victories in gubernatorial elections.
Donald Trump, the 2024 presidential candidate, also used the atmosphere created by Biden and Democrats, saying: "To every college president, I say remove the encampments immediately,” he said. “Vanquish the radicals and take back our campuses for all of the normal students.”
As the momentum of supporting Palestine and suppressing protests grows, we are approaching one of the hot and long summers of protests and uprisings that characterized 1960s America.
/129