Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg responded to the anti-Israel protests that occurred at UT Austin, echoing similar demonstrations across the country. Buttigieg emphasized the importance of safety and condemned any form of antisemitism or hatred as unacceptable.
During an interview, Buttigieg highlighted President Biden's unequivocal stance against such expressions of hate, emphasizing the need to call out and confront them. He made a clear distinction between legitimate free speech and expressions of hate, stating that any form of discrimination or harassment based on religion or ethnicity is deeply troubling.
Buttigieg expressed particular concern over the targeting or harassment of Jewish students solely based on their religion or appearance, drawing parallels to the mistreatment of Arab students in the past. He emphasized the need to address and combat such behavior whenever it arises.
