Whoopi Goldberg lashes out at media for students protests coverage

Whoopi Goldberg has recently expressed her support for students involved in protests at colleges across the United States advocating for Palestine. These protests, which have seen a significant escalation in the past week, have spread to at least 76 universities and show signs of further increase.

The protests have drawn considerable attention due to the large number of participants and the high volume of arrests. Police forces across various states have detained over 700 individuals in an effort to disperse the gatherings, which have been largely peaceful but persistent. The widespread student-led demonstrations reflect a growing movement within college campuses, advocating for Palestinian rights and challenging U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, reported Daily Mail.

While talking about the ongoing protests on the latest episode of The View, Whoopi slammed the media as she said, “Since I haven’t said anything, I’m sorry, I do have to do this.”

“It is one of the great rights as an American to stand up and say something’s wrong,” she continued. The Sister Act star stated, “Regardless of what your colour is, if you are a woman or man, it doesn’t matter, and we must teach our people how to be on the lookout.” “Part of our problem is the media takes what is the best clickbait,” remarked the 68-year-old. Whoopi explained, “So, you see the same posters or you see the same people, but you don’t see the folks who are doing peaceful stuff and saying, ‘Here’s what we want to do.'”

Goldberg’s endorsement of the student protests marks a significant moment in the ongoing discussions about freedom of speech and activism within the academic environment. Her support underscores a broader cultural and political acknowledgment of the importance of student activism in shaping public discourse and policy.

The involvement of a high-profile figure like Goldberg also highlights the intersection of celebrity influence with political and social activism, bringing more visibility to the causes the students are championing. The arrests made during these protests have sparked a debate about the right to peaceful assembly and the measures used by law enforcement in response to public demonstrations.

“I would caution the media to be very careful about what they’re doing and how they’re handling this because what they seem to be doing is pushing a narrative that people are pushing against, which students are pushing against, which I’m thrilled to see because I like when students get mad and say, ‘We want a change made,'” warned The Color Purple actress.

Earlier on the show, Whoopi addressed her panel, saying, “Let’s be very clear about this, no one supports any anti-Semitic hate speech, and students fearing for their safety, but do they have the right to peacefully protest about ending violence?”

Critics argue that the heavy police presence and the swift actions taken to arrest protesters could be seen as an attempt to stifle dissent and discourage peaceful expressions of political and social views. Supporters of the protests argue that such demonstrations are essential for democracy and help bring attention to critical issues that may be overlooked or underrepresented in mainstream discussions.

She argued, “‘Isn’t this part of being an American, and also standing up when you see something that’s wrong?” Meanwhile, Whoopi wasn’t the only one on the panel who talked about the topic as Sunny Hostin added, “I think we need to shift the framing of these college protests back, in my view.”

The response to the protests and Goldberg’s public support come at a time when issues of free speech and political activism are increasingly prominent in the national conversation. The events unfolding across these universities are not only about the specific political stance regarding Palestine but also about the broader rights of students to organize and express their views on campus.