VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — As Regent University welcomes students back to class for the first day of the new semester, a local organization protested in front of the private Virginia Beach university, calling for the termination of Dean Michele Bachmann.
Bachmann, a former Republican Congresswoman from Minnesota and current dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent, is under fire for recent comments she made about Gaza.
Her remarks have circulated in a video online where she said, “…because they have one industry in Gaza and that’s terrorism. So, it’s time that Gaza ends. The two million people that live there, they are clever assassins. They need to be removed from that land. That land needs to be turned into a national park…”
A university spokesperson said her statement was in response to a question about the war on the Charlie Kirk radio program. It led to a group called Hampton Roads For Palestine to protest outside the university on Monday morning.
“We the people hold Regent University accountable,” one protester said.
“It’s unfathomable to imagine how calling to wipe out a population and just the racism behind those kinds of statements,” another protester named Kara, said.
A couple of weeks ago, Bachmann took to social media to clarify her statement. She wrote the context of her remarks was “centered on Hamas’ worldview.”
She said, “I suggested that perhaps Iran would take in Gazan refugees since it supports Hamas. I did not call for the death or forced relocation of any Gazans.”
Kara said Bachmann's comments don't speak well of the education students are getting at the university.
"There's so much clear bias that's coming out of a place of a place that supports genocide," Kara said. "That's just not acceptable."
Kara added that she would like to see Bachmann removed from the university.
“You’ve embarrassed yourself," Kara said. "You’ve embarrassed Regent University. You have brought their credibility into question and you’re not fit to do your job.”
Regent University released a statement in response to the protest:
Regent University is committed to vigorous debate as a core principle of a liberal arts education. Citizens of the United States are guaranteed the right of free speech by the Bill of Rights. Freedom of speech also includes the right to peacefully protest as some have done today. Out of concern for everyone’s safety, their demonstration was on public property adjacent to the Regent University campus.
Former Representative Bachmann’s recent remarks about Gaza were in response to a question about the war made on the Charlie Kirk radio program. Having lived in Israel in the "Gaza Envelope" near the border, an area famous for rocket attacks from Gaza, she suggested one possible solution that she believed would lead to less bloodshed on both sides – that perhaps Iran would take in Gazan refugees since it supports Hamas. As some who heard this interview misunderstood these comments, she issued a subsequent statement confirming that she was absolutely not calling for the death of any Gazans. She also clarified that she should have originally stated there are in fact innocent people living in Gaza.
There is no denying that Hamas has widespread support among Gazans. Hamas is the government of Gaza and has vowed to repeat the atrocities of October 7 again and again. Hamas is still firing rockets into Israel and is still holding Israeli hostages. After months of war, Hamas still calls for the extermination of Israel.
The faculty and staff at Regent University will continue to pray for everyone who is suffering through this incredibly tragic situation and will continue to hope that the children of Ishmael and the children of Isaac can come together and live in peace.