President Joe Biden’s speech was interrupted by pro-Palestine protestors on Monday.
Biden appeared at Mother Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina — a site where nine parishioners were murdered by a gunman nine years ago.
“As many of you know, Jim [Clyburn] is a teacher and student of history,” Biden said about eight minutes into his speech, referring to the South Carolina congressman who introduced the president. “He knows the power of history, he knows the power of truth and the power of lies. He knows what happens when people are allowed to whitewash history, erase history, and bury history. He knows what the Bible teaches. We shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free.”
He continued: “But the truth is under assault in America. As a consequence, so is our freedom, our democracy, our very country because without the truth there is no light, without light there’s no path from this darkness.”
At that point, an audience member spoke out, “If you really care about the lives lost here, then you should honor the lives lost and call for a ceasefire in Palestine.”
The audience member was joined by several others, who began chanting, “Ceasefire now!”
“It’s alright,” Biden repeated, holding up his hands.
Video footage posted to X by RT showed several members of the audience being escorted out of the building. Biden's speech at church interrupted by pro-Gaza activists pic.twitter.com/95Q3nyWGTs
— RT (@RT_com) January 8, 2024
Shortly after, supporters began shouting, “Four more years!”
“Thank you, thank you,” Biden said, breaking up the chant after nearly 25 seconds. “Look folks, I understand their passion.”
He added: “And I’ve been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza. I’m using all that I can to do it.”
Following audience applause, Biden was interrupted again by an audience member after he attempted to resume his speech.
“You’re an understanding person,” a woman in the audience said. “They don’t realize that. You’re a good man.”
“Well, thank you,” the president said.
He went on to discuss how the Confederacy was not able to accept the verdict that they lost the war, which ultimately led to the Jim Crow era.
Biden then drew a connection from this historical event to claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
“Now we’re living in an era of a second lost cause,” he continued. “Once again, there’s some in this country trying to turn a loss into a lie. A lie which, if allowed to live, will once again bring terrible damage to this country. This time, the lie is about the 2020 election.”
“Biden has encountered protests during nearly every trip he has made in recent months as his administration backs Israel in its response to Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist attacks that killed more than 1,000 Israelis,” The Hill reports. “The president has faced increasing pressure from the left to call for a cease-fire in Gaza, as Israeli strikes and shelling has killed thousands of Palestinians there.”
