The primary definition of "riot," on the other hand, is "a violent public disorder."

The right to protest is guaranteed by the First Amendment. There is no right to riot. Riots are precisely what we are seeing on college campuses across the country right now, and it's time to dispense with the euphemisms. On Monday night, we saw a brilliant example of a riot - not a protest, a riot.

In a statement hours after anti-Israel agitators stormed the iconic Hamilton Hall on the Manhattan campus and barricaded its doors, the university said it would remain closed "until circumstances allow otherwise."

"Effective immediately, access to the Morningside campus has been limited to students residing in residential buildings on campus (Carman, Furnald, John Jay, Hartley, Wallach, East Campus and Wien) and employees who provide essential services to campus buildings, labs and residential student life (for example, Dining, Public Safety, and building maintenance staff). There is no additional access to the Morningside campus," a statement from the university said.

It added: "This access restriction will remain in place until circumstances allow otherwise."

So, why does the legacy media continue to push this "peaceful protest" horse squeeze?

When this whole thing started, they did start as protests. Yes, these were protests by the terminally clueless; "Queers for Palestine," for one particularly stupid example. And we have been charitable, referring to these as protests as things gradually escalated.

Previously on RedState: WATCH: UT-Austin Protestors Hit With Pepper Spray by Police, Have Meltdowns When Carted Off

WATCH: VCU Protesters Set Up Tents, Attack Police Who Come to Get Them, Find That's Not a Good Idea

Police Arrest Multiple Pro-Hamas Protesters at University of Georgia

'They Held Me Hostage': Worker Does More to Defend Columbia Than Admin After Protesters Break In

It's time to call these things what they are. They are riots and must be dealt with as such.

There's an old saying that goes, "Your right to swing your fists ends at my nose." That's something of an oversimplification, but it's not bad as a general guideline. If these useful pro-Hamas idiots were standing on the sidewalk waving flags, they would be well within their rights under the First Amendment. But that's not what they are doing. They are blocking Jewish students from entering their campuses. They are setting up illegal encampments on public property. And now they are storming and taking over university buildings.

These riots have already doubtless cost thousands in property damage and cleanup costs. These costs will only escalate.

Protests can be allowed. Indeed, protests must be allowed. Riots, on the other hand, must be dealt with. Not all that long ago, riots were dealt with harshly: "Disperse or you will be fired upon" is too extreme, but the tepid and, yes, impotent response by some of our institutions of higher education is likewise the wrong answer. The proper response here is between the two, but it should be executed with rigor:

• Any students arrested for blocking access, damaging or destroying property, threatening other students, or any other criminal behavior should be instantly expelled from their universities.
• Any foreign students arrested for the same should have their visas revoked and be immediately deported. No appeal, no amnesty, no nothing, no kidding - send them home and forever bar them from ever receiving another visa for any reason.
• Any citizens who are not students should have trespass charges added on to the charges resulting from the riot.

These riots will continue until they are dealt with. Some states - Texas and Florida - are starting to get it. Others - New York - are arguably making things worse through their impotent responses. 

It's going to be a long, hot summer.