White House praises UNC students holding up American flag during protests as 'admirable'

Members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity held up the American flag near protesters on Tuesday, after the pro-Palestinian protesters took down the United States flag and replaced it with a Palestinian one. The fraternity's actions resulted in skirmishes between protesters and the counter-protesters and was also met by activists throwing items at them.

By Misty Severi

Published: May 3, 2024 6:15pm

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised students at the University of North Carolina as "admirable" on Friday, after they hoisted an American flag up amid anti-Israel protests occurring on the campus.

Members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity held up the American flag near protesters on Tuesday, after the pro-Palestinian protesters took down the United States flag and replaced it with a Palestinian one. The fraternity's actions resulted in skirmishes between protesters and the counter-protesters, and was also met by activists throwing items at them, the Hill reported.

“All Americans have the right to peacefully protest. It is not right to forcefully take down the American flag, to replace it with another flag. It is not right. And so I just wanted to make that clear as well,” Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing. “Protecting the American flag is admirable."

Jean-Pierre emphasized that the students have the right to protest, as long as it was done peacefully, but admitted that it can be difficult to protest peacefully when there are so many emotions involved.

“We have to follow the rule of law. Violence is not protected here. Americans have the right to peacefully, peacefully protest within the law,” the press secretary said. “We’re going to be very consistent here, and as I said, these are incredibly painful times, and it is a very charged moment, and we understand how difficult that could be.”

President Joe Biden also called for the protesters to protest peacefully on Thursday, but emphasized that vandalism, violence, and intimidating other students is not "peaceful."

The image of the Pi Kappa Phi group holding the flag went viral earlier this week, along with a GoFundMe that called for throwing the men a "rager" because they defended the flag. The fundraiser originally set out to raise $15,000 but ended up raising more than $500,000. One of the biggest donations came from billionaire Bill Ackman, who donated $10,000 to the group alone.