The White House on Friday condemned resurfaced remarks made by Khymani James, a student who served as a spokesperson for the pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University.
"Zionists don't deserve to live," James said in a video from January.
"Be grateful that I'm not just going out and murdering Zionists," he added.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates denounced James' comments, labeling them as "dangerous" and "appalling" in a statement on Friday.
"These dangerous, appalling statements turn the stomach and should serve as a wakeup call. It is hideous to advocate for the murder of Jews," Bates said.
These remarks surfaced around the same period when James faced scrutiny from university officials over a social media post regarding a confrontation with a Zionist.
The Hill reported that in the video, James said, "I don't fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser; I fight to kill."
Attempting to walk back his comments, James issued an "apology" on Friday via social media, declaring that his statements were "wrong."
James, a member of Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was banned from campus Friday, according to a Columbia spokesperson.
Saying James' comments didn't reflect their values, protest organizers declined to describe how involved his level of involvement with the demonstration.
The White House's rebuke comes amid heightened tensions surrounding pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the nation. Last week, the White House condemned calls for violence and intimidation targeting Jewish students, affirming the right to peaceful protest while denouncing any form of violence or intimidation directed at the Jewish community.
Bates reiterated last week the administration's stance, describing such acts as "blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous" and saying they have no place on college campuses or anywhere in the United States.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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