Biden’s abortion rights rally in Virginia interrupted by Gaza protests

U.S. President Joe Biden took aim at Republicans over their efforts to curb abortion rights in a Virginia speech on Tuesday, but his remarks were interrupted repeatedly by hecklers protesting his policies toward Israel.
On the same day that people were voting for a Republican presidential candidate in New Hampshire, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris – in a bit of counterprogramming – held a rally about abortion, an issue that has proven to drive voters to the polls to oppose conservative measures.
“The person most responsible for taking away this freedom in America is Donald Trump,” Biden said about the former president and current frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination.
The U.S. Supreme Court, with a conservative majority made possible by three justices who joined the court under Trump, struck down in 2022 the Roe v. Wade ruling that guaranteed women’s right to abortion.
The crowd cheered for Biden, but it was not entirely friendly. Multiple interruptions forced Biden to pause or try to speak over shouts of “Ceasefire now,” and “Genocide Joe” over his support for Israel and its assault on Gaza after a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7 last year.