/ CBS News
The following is a records of an interview with Rep. Ro Khanna, Democrat of California, that aired on May 5, 2024.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re signed up with now by California Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, great to have you here. And you’ve been, I understand, checking out college schools throughout the nation, in Michigan, Nevada, and the Biden project just recently sent you to Wisconsin. Are we at the point now where the protesters are ending up being a story unto themselves and a diversion from the problems that they’re opposing?
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): No, I do not believe so. I indicate, in Wisconsin, the problems that turned up very first were abortion rights. Second, the expense of living and what the President was going to do on trainee loans, and for real estate and lease. Gaza showed up. You understand, one of the discussions in Madison with Jewish Americans and Arab Americans was extremely civil, thoughtful and useful. I believe in a lot of schools, there are 4,000 of them in the United States, there is really useful discussion taking location.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But the president isn’t doing those type of listening sessions. Why?
REP. KHANNA: I believe the president needs to and will go out there on schools. I- I believe–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– He gets screamed down “genocide Joe”, when he goes to occasions.
REP. KHANNA: And look, that’s part of demonstration. I condemn any demonstrations that prompts violence, or that is antisemitic. As somebody whose grandpa invested 4 years in prison with Gandhi. I indicate, the entire point of satyagraha was nonviolent demonstration. We need to comprehend that this is a specifying minute for this generation, comparable to anti-Vietnam demonstrations, anti-apartheid demonstrations, anti-Iraq War demonstrations. And they’re informing us that 30- over 30,000 individuals have actually passed away. It’s time for this war to end. It’s time for the captives to be launched that Hamas has, and they wish to see management in America and around the globe. This is not the world that they desire.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the president, however, has stated the demonstrations aren’t making him alter his policy. He is unquestionably pro-Israel. It was a month back, he stated something needed to alter or U.S. policy would. Do you anticipate any modification in U.S. policy as an outcome?
REP. KHANNA: I do. And I somewhat disagree. I believe the- the demonstrations and the bigger motion have actually had the president modification. I imply, you take a look at the president now discussing a few of the repercussions that might have on Netanyahu, the Erez canal- the Erez opening open, the United States didn’t ban the ceasefire resolution in the United Nations after 3 efforts.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And then stated that it was non-binding.
REP. KHANNA: And stated not binding, however a minimum of- appearance, everybody from the president on down understands that youths are distressed at what’s going on in the Middle East. And I- I do believe it’s had an awakening in Washington, that this war needs to end, that a lot of individuals are passing away. And if you take a look at the president’s language, it’s definitely moved over the last 6 months. Now, a few of us desire there to be effects.
MARGARET BRENNAN:. And today, we understand there’s this May 8 due date for the administration to offer a report about whether Israel and other receivers of U.S. military help are utilizing those weapons in accordance with law and whether they’re obstructing humanitarian help. Is this going to be a sincere accounting?
REP. KHANNA: I hope so. There’s an independent job force that has in- provided the report. And- currently–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– They are attempting to prebut–
REP. KHANNA:– To prebut–
MARGARET BRENNAN:– What the administration might put out, due to the fact that they are quite clear because non-government report that they do believe there are infractions.
REP. KHANNA: Yeah, so let’s be nuanced about what the report states since it’s in fact really thoughtful. They state, look, the Hamas attacks on October 7 were harsh, unjustified. They state there are tunnels underground in Gaza, however they state you can’t go ruining domestic structures simply since there’s a tunnel due to the fact that under global law, you can’t have out of proportion civilian damage. And they information cases where that takes place. They information cases where property structures were ruined with no military target. My expectation is that the State Department report requires to have that kind of subtlety and information and if it does not, you’re gon na have individuals asking why in Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So while you were discussing extremely particular policy modifications for extremely particular claims, you likewise see at a few of these demonstrations, things that are blended in there, either outside agitators or severe rhetoric. Your democratic coworker, Elissa Slotkin, was simply tweeting about this demonstration at GW University. She stated there were people screaming guillotine- guillotine and having a mock trial of school administrators. She states that develops an environment of worry for Jewish trainees. What’s being lost here in the discussion?
REP. KHANNA: Well, she’s. I suggest, you can’t be yelling “guillotine, guillotine.” You can’t be screaming “globalize the Intifada” or “Zionists do not should have to live.” What’s being lost is that those couple of protesters who are prompting violence or taking part in that type of antisemitism are lessening the countless youths who merely desire the war to end. And I think I would state aim to John Lewis or Dr. King. They in their demonstrations were above reproach. If some specific taken part in bigotry, they call them out initially and loudly. I’m happy of a lot of the young individuals who desire to end the war, however they require to reveal the discipline and some universities have. Take a look at Cornell, take a look at University of Minnesota, take a look at what’s taking place at Northwestern. There have actually been efforts not to have the authorities in, to have discussion with the trainee protesters, to have far more peace and calm, and there are designs for what can operate in this nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman, it’s constantly intriguing to speak with you.
REP. KHANNA: Thank you, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thank you for informing us what you’re seeing out there on college schools. We’ll be back in a minute.