Kanishka Singh and Hannah Beier
Thu, December 14, 2023
By Kanishka Singh and Hannah Beier
WASHINGTON/PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A Jewish group demanding a ceasefire in Israel's war in Gaza held protests on Thursday in eight U.S. cities on the eighth night of Hanukkah, blocking rush hour traffic on busy streets and bridges in Washington and Philadelphia.
In Washington, the group Jewish Voice for Peace said about 90 protesters blocked the overpass to New York Avenue in the northwestern part of the U.S. capital. Police said the demonstration closed the intersection of New York Avenue and North Capitol Street and urged people to use alternate routes.
"On the 8th night of Hanukkah, 8 cities, 8 bridges," Jewish Voice for Peace said on X, formerly called Twitter. "We are here, gathering across the country in massive, growing numbers, to say no more."
Demonstrations also occurred in Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle and Portland, Oregon.
In Philadelphia, about 200 protesters briefly blocked the I-76 highway, and more than 30 arrests were made, a Reuters witness said. Protesters held signs and banners that read: "Let Gaza Live" and "Not in our name."
The United Nations on Tuesday demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip where Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas militants.
The war in Gaza has led to pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protests in the United States since Oct. 7 when Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that rules Gaza, killed 1,200 Israelis and seized 240 hostages in a cross-border raid.
Since then, Israeli forces have besieged the coastal enclave and laid much of it to waste, with nearly 19,000 people dead, according to Palestinian health officials.
On Wednesday, anti-war activists blocked traffic on a busy Los Angeles highway during the morning rush hour and while some staff from the Biden administration also held a vigil demanding a ceasefire.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Hannah Beier in Philadelphia; Editing by Heather Timmons and Cynthia Osterman)
Over 100 protesters calling for ceasefire in Gaza block Seattle’s University Bridge
Jake Chapman,KIRO 7 News Staff
Fri, December 15, 2023
Over 100 protesters calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza fully blocked Seattle’s University Bridge on Thursday.
Seattle Department of Transportation cameras showed the demonstrators blocking both sides of the bridge in two separate groups. They were seen holding a banner reading “The whole world is watching.”
Organizers with Jewish Voice for Peace say that politicians like Patty Murray have the power to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“And we are saying ‘Patty Murray, how can you pretend to be a defender of children here or around the world and let this happen in our name with our dollars?’” Michael Grant with the group said.
Grant tells KIRO 7 that different chapters of their group organized similar protests across the country Thursday evening, calling out all politicians and President Biden to take action in the matter.
“Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco have shut down bridges demanding the same thing from both their representatives and from President Biden,” Grant said.
Others at the University Bridge protest say this won’t be the last protest we see in Western Washington or across the country.
“This is not the end. We are not going to let business go on as usual when there is a genocide happening in the name of Jewish safety and our elected officials are doing nothing,” Bennie said.
The bridge was cleared around 6:35 p.m.
Hundreds of protesters block Boston traffic amid rush hour, call for ceasefire in Gaza
Daniel Coates
Thu, December 14, 2023
Hundreds of protesters blocked rush hour traffic on Thursday, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Local Jewish groups and allies made their way from Boston City Hall, down Congress Street, and up to the old Statehouse, chanting for Massachusetts lawmakers to act.
Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren were called upon to help stop the violence in Gaza.
“They haven’t clearly come out and said we need a ceasefire and more importantly they haven’t done anything to make a ceasefire come about,” one protester said.
IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace led the rally, blocking off 15 lanes of traffic on Congress and State Street. The groups lit 8 candles on the pavement for the 9th night of Hannukah.
Signs reading “peace,” “justice,” and “ceasefire” were held while Jewish prayers were recited in Hebrew.
“We can’t just celebrate a holiday happily at home while people are being murdered in our name,” a protester said.
#WATCH: ‘Ceasefire now!’
On the last night of Hanukkah, local Jewish groups, allies are calling for a ceasefire in Palestine outside Boston City Hall.
The group will soon move to a second location close by for a ‘disturbance.’ @boston25 pic.twitter.com/IYyXww5iaV
— Daniel Coates (@danielcoates_25) December 14, 2023
Commuters voiced their frustration with the traffic.
“I have a final exam in three minutes,” a commuter said. “There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Bostonians were stuck behind the wheel for over two hours while the protest was ongoing.
“I think this will create an extreme alienation against them and their cause that they are subjecting people to this kind of harassment,” said one passerby.
Elizabeth Weinbloom of IfNotNow Boston said the goal of the protest was to disrupt “business as usual” at the height of Boston’s largest intersection.
“We’re sorry to disrupt people’s nights,” she said, “they’re not our target. We’re here to send a message to Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren.”
Weinbloom says she expects more protests like this until Massachusetts leaders speak up and act. She says her group has tried to reach them and feel like demonstrations such as this are their only hope now.
In the meantime, Boston Police say all streets in the downtown area have now reopened. All streets in the downtown area have reopened. https://t.co/AgUqGnnZlK
— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) December 14, 2023
Protesters calling for ceasefire in Gaza block roads near LAX
Vivian Chow
Fri, December 15, 2023
A large group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza were blocking streets near the Los Angeles International Airport on Friday night.
The protesters were blocking traffic near an airport entrance at the intersection of Vicksburg Avenue and 96th Street at around 5 p.m.
At one point, the group was seen walking over the 96th Street bridge, impacting access for rideshare drivers.
A group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza were blocking streets near the Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 15, 2023. (KTLA)
A group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza were blocking streets near the Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 15, 2023. (KTLA)
A group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza were blocking streets near the Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 15, 2023. (KTLA)
A group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza were blocking streets near the Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 15, 2023. (KTLA)
A group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza were blocking streets near the Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 15, 2023. (KTLA)
A group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza were blocking streets near the Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 15, 2023. (KTLA)
A group of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza were blocking streets near the Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 15, 2023. (KTLA)
“Due to protests going on nearby @flyLAXairport, access for Uber and Lyft has been impacted,” LAX officials said in a statement. “The 96th Street bridge is being impacted as well.”
The demonstrators are calling for an end to the war between Hamas and Israel that began on Oct. 7 and has claimed over 18,500 lives so far.
They were heard chanting, “Resistance is justified! Free Palestine and genocide,” and also holding a banner that read, “Let Gaza live.”
The unnamed L.A. coalition described themselves as an “unaffiliated group of Palestinians, Jews, and Angelenos of conscience.” The group is calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the “genocide of the Palestinian people.”
“I’m part of this unnamed coalition that’s gathered today representing the masses of Los Angeles — the working class, organizers, movement leaders, people who are being led by a moral compass that are still very much tuned in and focused on what’s happening and are dedicated to stopping it,” said a protester named Tony.
Earlier this week on Dec. 13, another group of protesters calling for a cease-fire shut down traffic on the 110 Freeway in downtown L.A.
That group, called IfNotNow, described itself as a movement of American Jews supporting the end of U.S. support for Israel’s war on Gaza.
Protesters calling for an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire blocked the 110 Freeway on Dec. 13, 2023. (KTLA)
Anti-war demonstrators are seen blocking the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2023.
Police, protesters and stopped cars are seen on the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2023.
Anti-war demonstrators are seen blocking the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2023.
Anti-war demonstrators are seen blocking the 110 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles in KTLA 5 News coverage on Dec. 13, 2023.
The demonstrators were seen sitting in the southbound lanes of the freeway near 3rd Street behind a large banner reading, “Permanent Ceasefire: Equality, Justice, Safety For All.”
Thousands of drivers were impacted as the protest not only blocked travel on the busy 110 Freeway but also caused heavy congestion on other L.A. freeways and side streets.
A large Jewish Hanukia, or Menorah, had also been placed on the freeway. Traffic was blocked at around 9:30 a.m. for about two hours before the protesters were removed by law enforcement. Around 75 people were arrested, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Although some residents criticized the move to block major roads or freeways, claiming the massive disruption could put lives at risk, protesters said they felt they had no other options.
“I understand that there might be some frustrations or annoyance,” Tony said. “I would also say there are a lot of people on the flip side who were in support of it so that’s what we like to focus on. For those who did have a problem with it, at least they were eventually able to get where they were trying to go. In Gaza, people do not have that luxury, that ability to move so freely.”
Although traffic was backed up in multiple directions near LAX on Friday night, so far, no other impacts to airport entrances have been reported.
“We thank everyone for their patience,” said LAX officials.
UK
Pro-Palestinian rallies continue as Gaza crisis intensifies
Pro-Palestinian rallies continue as Gaza crisis intensifies
Dominic McGrath
EVENING STANDARD
Sat, December 16, 2023
(PA Wire)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have gathered again this weekend to call for an end to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
Organisers Stop the War Coalition listed 57 separate pro-Palestinian events across UK on Saturday, including assemblies and candlelit vigils.
It comes amid growing international concern about the Israeli operation in the region.
The offensive, triggered by the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, has flattened much of northern Gaza and driven 85% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes.
Displaced people have squeezed into shelters mainly in the south in a spiralling humanitarian crisis.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has expressed unease over Israel’s failure to reduce civilian casualties and its plans for the future of Gaza, but the White House continues to offer wholehearted support with weapons shipments and diplomatic backing.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration is also facing public anger, after Israeli troops on Friday mistakenly shot dead three hostages.
The army’s chief spokesman said troops found the hostages on Friday and erroneously identified them as a threat. He said it was not clear if they had escaped their captors or been abandoned.
The hostages have been identified as Alon Shamriz, Samer Al-Talalka and Yotam Haim.
Late on Friday, hundreds of protesters blocked Tel Aviv’s main road in a spontaneous demonstration calling for the return of hostages still held by Palestinian militants.
In north London, about 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Camden to call for a ceasefire, with some shouting “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free”.
Sat, December 16, 2023
(PA Wire)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators have gathered again this weekend to call for an end to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
Organisers Stop the War Coalition listed 57 separate pro-Palestinian events across UK on Saturday, including assemblies and candlelit vigils.
It comes amid growing international concern about the Israeli operation in the region.
The offensive, triggered by the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, has flattened much of northern Gaza and driven 85% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes.
Displaced people have squeezed into shelters mainly in the south in a spiralling humanitarian crisis.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has expressed unease over Israel’s failure to reduce civilian casualties and its plans for the future of Gaza, but the White House continues to offer wholehearted support with weapons shipments and diplomatic backing.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration is also facing public anger, after Israeli troops on Friday mistakenly shot dead three hostages.
The army’s chief spokesman said troops found the hostages on Friday and erroneously identified them as a threat. He said it was not clear if they had escaped their captors or been abandoned.
The hostages have been identified as Alon Shamriz, Samer Al-Talalka and Yotam Haim.
Late on Friday, hundreds of protesters blocked Tel Aviv’s main road in a spontaneous demonstration calling for the return of hostages still held by Palestinian militants.
In north London, about 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Camden to call for a ceasefire, with some shouting “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free”.
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