Sanders voices support for pro-Palestinian protests as he condemns ‘all forms of bigotry’

Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Sunday that he supports protests against Israel’s war in Gaza while stressing the need to “condemn, in every form, antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Sunday that he supports protests against Israel’s war in Gaza while stressing the need to “condemn, in every form, antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry.” “What Netanyahu’s right-wing, extremist and racist government is doing is unprecedented in the modern history of warfare,” Sanders, told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.” “Right now, we are looking at the possibility of mass starvation and famine in Gaza. When you make those charges, that is not antisemitic. That is a reality.” Sanders’ comments come as college campuses across the United States have erupted with pro-Palestinian protests. Tensions on campus have risen sharply in the months since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel left more than 1,200 dead and dozens taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory assault in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 people, according to its health ministry. As the war continues, reports of antisemitic acts have surged across campuses, and Islamophobia has run rampant, too. The recent rise in protests has inflamed those tensions, forcing university leaders to decide when free speech on campus crosses a line and becomes threatening. “I’m Jewish, all right? My father’s family was wiped out by Hitler. Antisemitism is a disgusting and vile form of bigotry which has killed millions of people,” Sanders, Independent from Vermont, said Sunday. “I would hope that every American condemns antisemitism. We condemn Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry.”