Hundreds of demonstrators descended on a congressional building in Washington to demand a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, resulting in an estimated 305 arrests and restricting access to Capitol Hill. The rally was organized by two progressive Jewish groups, Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow, and about 400 of their members assembled inside the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building, led by about 25 rabbis reading testimonials from Palestinians in Gaza and reciting prayers. Outside, hundreds more chanted, “Cease-fire now” and sang in Hebrew and English.
The Associated Press has the story:
305 were arrested in Capitol Hill protest urging cease-fire in Gaza
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
More than 300 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating and three people were charged with assaulting police after protesters descended on Capitol Hill to call for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
Hundreds of demonstrators from Jewish advocacy groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now, poured into a congressional office building on Wednesday. They wore shirts that read “Jews say cease fire now” and they chanted “let Gaza live” and “not in my name” before they were detained by Capitol Police.
Demonstrations are not allowed inside Capitol buildings, and police said they warned the crowd gathered in the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building to stop before they began making the arrests.
The 305 people arrested for illegally demonstrating were subsequently released and those charged with assault were held in custody pending an appearance before a judge.
A few liberal members of Congress have been pushing for a resolution in the latest Hamas-Israel war, saying that Israeli bombardment of civilians in Gaza is leading to a humanitarian crisis.
The protesters were never in the U.S. Capitol, as some falsely stated on social media.
Demonstrations are not permitted in congressional buildings. About 305 protesters were arrested, organizers estimated, though the Capitol Police would not comment on the number beyond saying on the social media platform X that three were charged with assault on a police officer. Protesters were restrained with zip ties and led into police vans.
Linda Holtzman, a rabbi from Philadelphia, said she was protesting because of her faith, values and Jewish history, a theme other attendees echoed. Rabbi Holtzman, who said she was concerned about violence intensifying against civilians in Gaza, said that her grandmother survived the Holocaust and that she was taught to fight for all human life.
“Where there is no justice, I have to be a voice for justice,” she said.
Yasir Barakt, who moved to the United States from Gaza about 18 years ago, attended on behalf of his family back in Gaza, where more than two million people are running out of water, food and electricity. Barakt said he had had limited contact with his family because of the conditions, and he blamed the United States for what he described as funding violence against Palestinians.
Jim Best, 77, who identified as a gay, “red-blooded, patriotic taxpayer and grandfather,” visited Gaza in 2016, a trip, he said, that accentuated the quality-of-life disparity among Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and those of Israelis enjoying relative affluence nearby. He said he felt obligated to protest.
“My heart and mind and soul will never be the same,” Best said.
The gathering at the Capitol came just two days after a rally near the White House on Monday that the Jewish Voice for Peace executive director, Stefanie Fox, estimated drew at least 5,000 people. Activists at the rally on Wednesday called on demonstrators to attend another protest, near the Israeli Embassy in Washington, later in the evening. On Friday, the organization plans to participate in a rally with several activist groups at the National Mall.
“People are coming from across the country,” said Eva Borgwardt, the national spokeswoman for If Not Now. She believes that protesting violence is a way to honor fallen Israelis and Palestinians. “So many of us are grieving,” she said, adding, “The horrific bombing cannot be the answer.”
