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Joe Biden speech at Coast Guard Academy lauded amid pro-Palestine protests in Connecticut: 'America is back'

Protesters gathered outside the Connecticut academy to denounce Biden's inaction on the Israel-Palestine conflict but were quickly overshadowed by the president's words to the graduates

President Joe Biden seems to be a busy man these days. After visiting the Ford factory in Michigan a day ago, the president was in New London, Connecticut, on Wednesday, May 19. He was scheduled to address graduates of the Coast Guard Academy located in the city, but it's not all going according to plan.

As Biden made his way to the academy, protesters stationed themselves outside and shouted slogans in support of Palestine. Local journalists shared images and videos of the protesters on social media, who are opposed to Biden's support of Israel. One local journalist tweeted, "Chants of ‘stop the killing stop the hate’ by Students for Justice in Palestine during demonstration outside Coast Guard Academy where president will visit this morning".

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The crowds gathered at McKinley Park, located just outside the academy. Another local journalist tweeted a short video, and said, "Crowds gathering at McKinley Park outside US Coast Guard Academy ahead of @POTUS visit to address Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some signs read 'End the occupation,' 'Free Palestine,' and 'Solidarity with Palestine.'"

"This is not politics, this is not religion--- this is about humanity," one of the protesters told CT Post. Many were waving Palestine flags, or carrying boards with messages. As more protesters emerged, police were forced to seal off Mohegan Avenue Parkway at the intersection where protesters were staged. 

Amidst the latest round of bombing between Israel and Palestine, the Biden administration approved a $735 million arms sale to Israel. That includes precision-guided weapons, that Isreal is using to target what it calls "Hamas-controlled" areas in Gaza. The US also blocked a UN Security Council statement calling for an end to the violence, leading to much anger and frustration. Earlier, on May 19, Biden did call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urge "de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire". 

Amidst the backdrop of the confrontation, the president's words to the graduates seemed to strike a chord with social media users, who quickly buried news of the protesters. 

'This is a human'

"Pres Biden is giving the commemecment at the US Coast Guard Academy & had them all get up & applaud their parents~ This is a human who actually WAS a parent !" tweeted one user. Another said, "Listening to a @POTUS who has a sense of humor, and doesn’t spend every second bragging about how great he is, never gets old! @POTUS giving commencement speech at the Coast Guard Academy puts the attention on the class graduating, and not himself! Very proud I voted for him!"

Another shared a moment where Biden joked with the graduates, "Biden has his 'please clap' moment after making a wisecrack about the Navy at the Coast Guard Academy. 'You're a really dull class. Come on, man. Is the sun getting to ya?'" 

"Watching some of the Coast Guard Academy commencement and it's so freakin' NICE to not hear a man rambling over conspiracy theories. Plus, Biden asked the cadets to salute their parents in the stands" tweeted one user. Another shared, "Wonderful commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy, @POTUS. Well done. America is back. "

Interestingly, Fox News chose to ignore Biden's speech, which many users also pointed out on Twitter. Others used it as an opportunity to compare Biden's speech with that given by Trump when he addressed graduates at the Naval Academy in 2018.