Thousands Gather at White House to Protest Against Gaza War
TL/DR –
Thousands of protesters gathered near the White House to demand President Biden cease military aid to Israel and establish an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Many were critical of the Biden administration’s response to the conflict, and urged young and non-white voters, a key segment of Biden’s base, to reconsider their support for him. The primary demand of the protesters was the cessation of all weapon shipments to the US until the war ends; the US has committed $38 billion in military aid to Israel over a period of 10 years.
Pro-Palestinian Protesters Rally at White House
On Saturday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered around the White House, calling on President Biden to halt military aid to Israel and demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The protesters, displaying Palestinian flags and signs criticizing Biden, filled the streets around the White House, bewildering tourists and prompting a significant police presence.
The president was not in the White House, but in France for a state dinner with President Macron. The protests underscore the challenges Biden faces domestically, as he attempts to support Israel’s right to self-defense against Hamas while advocating for a swift end to the hostilities.
The activists criticized the Biden administration’s approach to the conflict, encouraging young and nonwhite voters to reassess their support for Biden. “I can’t confidently vote for Biden,” said Nas Issa, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Youth Movement. “If he doesn’t hold Netanyahu and the Israeli government accountable, why would it be acceptable for anyone with a conscience to vote for him?” she questioned.
Protesters Draw “Red Line” Around White House
Protesters formed a symbolic “red line” around the White House, made up of red paper listing names of the Palestinians killed during the war. This act was intended as a visual statement on Biden’s stance, challenging him to halt weapons shipments to Israel should Israel’s military cross a certain threshold.
Biden and his administration have maintained that recent events, including airstrikes killing dozens of Palestinians, do not constitute crossing this “red line”. Nonetheless, the protesters’ main demand was an immediate freeze of all weapons shipments to Israel, to which the U.S. has committed $38 billion over 10 years.
Post-Protest Park Vandalism
No arrests were made during the protest, according to law enforcement. However, statues in Lafayette Square were vandalized with messages of “free Palestine”. Later in the day, empty water bottles were thrown at an unarmed park ranger by protesters, resulting in an assault on the ranger and injuries to two U.S. Park Police officers, stated the National Park Service.
Despite some groups alleging that chants incited violence against Jews, protesters insisted their messages were not anti-Semitic, but rather part of a broader resistance against the status quo. “We don’t have anything against Jews,” explained Adam Kattom, a founding member of Peoria for Palestine.
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