White House condemns pro-Palestine Columbia University protesters storming building and calls 'intifada' banner 'hate speech'

The White House on Tuesday condemned the pro-Palestine Columbia University protesters who stormed Hamilton Hall and unfurled a banner that read 'intifada.'

'President Biden has stood against repugnant, Antisemitic smears and violent rhetoric his entire life. He condemns the use of the term "intifada," as he has the other tragic and dangerous hate speech displayed in recent days,' spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement obtained by DailyMail.com. 

The phrase is used to encourage violence against Jews and Israelis. 

'President Biden respects the right to free expression, but protests must be peaceful and lawful,' Bates continued. 'Forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful - it is wrong. And hate speeh and hate symbols have no place in America.'  

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called forcibly taking over a building on Columbia's campus 'absolutely the wrong approach' when asked about the demonstrations during a Tuesday morning press call. 

President Joe Biden condemned the use of the term 'intifada' his spokesperson said Tuesday after demonstrators at Columbia University Monday night unfurled a banner that encouraged violence against Jews 

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hung an 'intifada' banner off of Hamilton Hall Monday night on Columbia  University's campus 

'That is not an example of peaceful protest,' Kirby said. 'And of course, as we you've rightly noted, hate speech and hate symbols also have no place in this country.'

Kirby said that a 'small percentage of students' shouldn't be able to interrupt the academic experience for the majority. 

'Students paying to go to school and wanting an education ought to be able to do that without disruption and they ought to be able to do that and feel safe doing it,' Kirby continued. 'And they certainly ought to be able to graduate and participate in a graduation ceremony.' 

Kirby was also asked if President Joe Biden supported the National Guard being deployed to campuses. 

He pointed to responses made by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre last week when she said that was an issue for governors to take up. 

'That decision-making has to start with the governor,' Kirby reiterated. 'You pick the state because that's their responsibility, there's no active effort to look at federalizing the National Guard at this time.' 

According to the Columbia Spectator, dozens of protesters broke into Hamilton Halls after midnight Tuesday, breaking windows, barricading the doors and blocking entrances with wooden tables and chairs and securing doors with zip-ties. 

A banner readinng 'intifada' hangs from Hamilton Hall, which was taken over by student demonstrators after midnight Tuesday 

Broken windows could be seen at Hamilton Hall on Tuesday, as anti-Israel protesters on Columbia University's campus continued to occupy the building 

A 'Free Palestine' banner was also hung from a window at Hamilton Hall Tuesday, after student demonstrators took over the academic building shortly after midnight 

Campus officials had directed students to disassemble their protest encampment by 2 p.m. Monday or face suspension. 

Instead things got more rowdy on campus with the Hamilton Hall takeover. 

Students hung a banner that read Hind's Hall' in honor of Hind Rajab, 6, who died in Gaza in January. 

As of Tuesday, the building remained occupied by the student demonstrators as Columbia's Morningside campus was locked down. 

The building was also taken over by protesters in April 1968 in the weeks following the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. 

Students were protesting racism and were advocating for the end of the Vietnam War.