‘Free Palestine’ Chants Reverberate on Capitol

Massive Crowd Converge to Protest Netanyahu’s Address

WASHINGTON (Dispatches) − A large crowd chanting “free Palestine,” “stop bombing Gaza,” and “Netanyahu you can’t hide” gathered Wednesday outside the U.S. Capitol building to protest the visit of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to discourage Congress from further funding Israel’s war on Gaza.
Netanyahu was scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday afternoon. The invitation to speak has drawn criticism from pro-Palestinian advocates outraged by Israel’s Gaza invasion that health authorities there say has martyred almost 40,000 residents of the battered enclave.
Police officers from multiple agencies patrolled the area around the Capitol, and a helicopter flew overhead as the crowd, led by various speakers, chanted and waved Palestinian flags and signs.
Most of the protesters were wearing red shirts and wore black-and-white keffiyehs, the traditional Arab scarf that has become a symbol for Palestinians.
Conor Hammonds and his mother, Jackie Dyer, drove in from Baltimore to protest the war in Gaza. Dyer said the U.S. government’s support of the srael’s far-right government is a “desecration of what this country stands for.”
The protests began Tuesday, when Capitol Police said about 200 demonstrators were arrested inside the Cannon House Office Building. Protesters demonstrated outside Netanyahu’s hotel Tuesday night, chanting, waving Palestinian flags and projecting an image of Netanyahu onto the building captioned with the words “WANTED” and “ARREST NETANYAHU.”
A “diverse coalition” of more than 100 interns anonymously signed a letter denouncing Netanyahu’s visit.
Capitol Police, charged with safeguarding Congress and its buildings, closed roads around the U.S. Capitol and added more officers, including from outside agencies, to patrol and monitor the crowds.
Police said in a statement they expected a big crowd and warned that it was illegal to attempt to cross an established police line or barrier. The Metropolitan Police Department, which serves the city, also announced road closures, limited public parking and tightened security through most of the week. Some public tours were rerouted and police warned of traffic delays, citing the “dignitary visit.”
On Tuesday, a few hundred members of the group Jewish Voice for Peace descended on the rotunda of the Cannon House office building to protest the war and

demand a ceasefire. The demonstrators chanted slogans and had signs with messages such as “Jews to Congress: Stop Arming Israel’’ and “Let Gaza Live.’’

In a string of social media posts, the group said it refused to “sit by as our government facilitates and defends” Israel’s war.

“As the daily horrors against Palestinians in Gaza escalate, so too will our resolve and commitment to stand with Palestinians,” the post said. “We continue to demand: STOP ARMING ISRAEL!”

Seven labor unions totaling millions of members sent a letter Tuesday to the White House demanding a truce in Gaza and for the U.S. to stop supplying weapons to Israel. The signatories included the Association of Flight Attendants, American Postal Workers Union, International Union of Painters, National Education Association, Service Employees International Union, United Electrical Workers and United Auto Workers.

The United Auto Workers is based in Michigan, home to the biggest percentage and second largest number of Arab Americans in the country. Michigan is also considered one of a handful of crucial “swing states” that could tip the 2024 presidential election.

“Workers, students, and people from all walks of life will be at the Capitol (on Wednesday) to issue a warrant of arrest to war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu,” the group said in a social media post. “We will see you there! Don’t miss this!”

In addition, several aid groups and other organizations partnered to launch a mobile billboard that drove around Washington with the message: “No more bombs for Netanyahu.”

Protesters Block Entrances to Foreign Office in London

In the UK, pro-Palestinian demonstrators blocked entrances to the Foreign Office in London in protest at the failure of the new Labor government to do more to change UK policy towards Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

As many as 300 people sealed off access to the Foreign Office with a large banner saying “Genocide Made in Britain”. Protesters said six demonstrators had been arrested.

Workers for a Free Palestine, which organized the protest, said the aim was to make the foreign secretary, David Lammy, practise what he preached in opposition, and meet his own demands by publishing legal advice on UK arms to Israel.

Lammy, who has begun a trip to India, has been accused of sitting on his hands over the continued licensing of UK arms exports to Israel, as well as failing to confirm whether the UK would arrest Netanyahu if he came to Britain after an ICC warrant was issued.

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‘Free Palestine’ Chants Reverberate on Capitol