Protesters in the US entered the Cannon House office building on Wednesday, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The demonstrations, however, were intervened by the police who made several arrests.
“Demonstrations are not allowed inside Congressional Buildings,” Capitol Police posted on X.
“We warned the protesters to stop demonstrating and when they did not comply we began arresting them.”
Arrests in the Canon Rotunda and the rolling road closures are ongoing.
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) October 18, 2023
Amongst these arrests, three people have been arrested and charged with Assault on a Police Officer during processing.
The protest was organised by the Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and IfNotNow. The protesters demanded Congress to push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Biden administration is openly siding with Israel in its increased attacks on Palestinians following the October 7 attacks by Hamas. It has, so far, resulted in the killings of more than 3,300 Palestinians and injury of more than 10,000.
“The root of violence is oppression, and we’re here to say no in our names,” Jewish Voice for Peace posted on X. “We have the power to stop the ongoing atrocities against Palestinians. We refuse to standby as the Israeli government commits genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.”
The root of violence is oppression, and we're here to say not in our names.
— Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive) October 18, 2023
We have the power to stop the ongoing atrocities against Palestinians. We refuse to standby as the Israeli government commits genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. #ceasefirenow pic.twitter.com/cQ5bgYCGsP
JVP has reported that around 10,000 protesters gathered outside the Capitol building and 500 more went inside “to demand an end to the Israeli and U.S. government’s genocide in Gaza.”
Today, 500 Jews were arrested and 10k took to the streets to support and to demand a ceasefire and an end to Palestinian genocide.
— Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive) October 18, 2023
We shut down congress to draw mass attention to the U.S. complicity in Israel's ongoing oppression of Palestinians. But our work isn't done. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/1aQf15Xx0D
“I wish all the Palestinian people would see this. I wish they could see that not all of America want them to die. That they are not disposable, that they have a right to live,” said Rashida Tlaib, the only current Palestinian-American member of Congress.
“U.S. Jews say cease fire in Gaza” rally at US Capitol https://t.co/6SwWgffXqe
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) October 18, 2023
On the other hand, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene asked the U.S. Capitol Police to maintain surveillance footage and photos, police reports and arrest records from the protest.
In a series of posts on X, Greene disapproved of the demonstrations.
The Palestinian Lives and Israel genocide narrative is the new Black Lives Matter.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 18, 2023
And the Hamas Caucus is starting it now.
They have voted every time for funding war in Ukraine but now are calling for peace in Gaza but make no mistake they are Pro Hamas and against Israel.
🧵 https://t.co/jOG5Nv9zjy pic.twitter.com/yTwW8Vjbfs
