Monday, February 05, 2024

Pennsylvania Capitol protest against state investing in Israel bonds ends with arrests

Mon, February 5, 2024



HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Police took more than 100 people protesting the Pennsylvania state government's investments in Israel into custody Monday, shutting down a demonstration on the steps of the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.

A spokesperson for the Department of General Services, which includes the Pennsylvania Capitol Police, said 126 people were taken into custody at what he described as an unpermitted, unauthorized demonstration. They were ordered to disperse before being arrested, issued citations for trespassing and then released, said spokesperson Troy Thompson.

Dani Noble with Jewish Voice for Peace said that by their count, 186 people were arrested.

The protestors, many wearing T-shirts that said “divest from genocide,” clapped and chanted during the protest, which organizers said was targeted at the state Treasury Department's investment in Israel bonds.

One large sign said the state should reinvest that tax money in healthcare, housing, schools and climate. There were chants of “free Palestine” before and after they were arrested.

The event was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, the Philly Palestine Coalition and the Pennsylvania Council on American-Islamic Relations. It began Monday morning outside the Capitol but moved to the Rotunda by early afternoon.

Lilah Saber, a participant in the protest, said it was solely focused on the state's investment in Israel bonds.

“We did not plan on being arrested, but we were arrested,” Saber said.

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican, said state treasurers of both parties have invested in Israel bonds for more than 30 years. The state's share of Israel bonds rose by $20 million after the Hamas attack that began the war in Gaza and is currently $56 million, Garrity said in a statement released by her office.

The state also holds about $8 million in other Israel-based securities. Together with the $56 million, that amounts to about 0.14% of the funds the Treasury Department actively manages, Garrity said.

Mark Scolforo, The Associated Press

Grammys Carpet Faced Stalled Arrivals Due to Pro-Palestine Protest; Annie Lennox Calls For Ceasefire During Performance


J. Kim Murphy
Sun, February 4, 2024 


The red carpet outside the Grammy Awards faced stalled arrivals as a protest in support of Palestine and an end to Israel’s ongoing attack on Gaza gathered in downtown Los Angeles outside the Crypto.com Arena.

Footage from the protest was posted on social media Sunday evening, shared with the hashtag #ShutItDown4Palestine. Sources operating the event also inform Variety that the group was blocking individuals from getting into the venue.

“Right now: Hundreds in LA rally and prepare to march outside the Grammy Awards for Palestine. A little rain won’t deter the movement!” the Party for Socialism and Liberation wrote in a post on social media, sharing footage from the event.

The Recording Academy could not be immediately reached for comment regarding the protest. Regardless, the Grammy Awards ceremony began promptly at the scheduled time of 5 p.m., along with the CBS broadcast of the event.

The political messages didn’t stop there. During the Grammys, Annie Lennox paid tribute to Sinéad O’Connor during a lengthy in memoriam segment, in which she covered the late musician’s signature song, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” At the end of the performance, Lennox lifted her left hand and said, “Artists for ceasefire, peace in the world.”

Lennox later elaborated on her statement during the ceremony with a post on social media, stating that she is “neither anti-Semitic nor pro-Hamas” but that “the value of life has been reduced less to zero” in the conflict.

“I fail to see how any of this has done anything to contribute to a peaceful solution and am heartbroken for everyone who has been victimised by this ever unfolding tragedy,” Lennox wrote.

The rainy day protest in Los Angeles was just one of several across the United States on Sunday in support of Shut It Down 4 Palestine. Since Israel launched an ongoing military attack against Gaza, retaliating against the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, protests calling for a ceasefire in the conflict have regularly continued across the globe. Per a new poll by the Associated Press, half of American adults believe that Israel’s military campaign in the region has “gone too far.”

The war in Gaza has displaced more than 85% of the region’s population. The death toll has climbed above 27,000 people, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

'Perfect choice' to 'disturbing': NHL All-Star anthem singer's pro-Palestinian attire in Toronto spurs debate

Kiana Ledé sang the U.S. national anthem ahead of the game on Saturday while wearing a keffiyeh-style sweater.



Chris Stoodley
·Lifestyle and News Editor
Sun, February 4, 2024 



A singer's pro-Palestinian attire at the NHL All-Star game in Toronto on Saturday is causing some division on social media.

Kiana Ledé performed the American national anthem ahead of the match at the Scotiabank Arena on Feb. 3 wearing a black and white sweater that resembled a Palestinian keffiyeh.

But following the performance, a director for the Pacific chapter of the Jewish National Fund of Canada — an organization that "is building the foundations for Israel's future, according to its website — called out the NHL on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Michael Sachs called Ledé an "interesting choice of singer" for the event, asking the NHL, "Is there not a vetting process in place?"

In the post, which has been viewed more than 500,000 times as of Sunday afternoon, he included a screenshot of a post Ledé shared on her own account in December about future concerts. In that post, she urged fans to come to her shows wearing any sign they can to support Palestinians, ending the note saying "if you're a Zionist, feel free to stay your a— at home."

Some X users were questioning why Sachs had an issue with the singer's choice of clothing.

Others sided with Sachs on the incident, with some also calling out the NHL.

On her Instagram Stories, Ledé shared she was "given this cardigan" from a British brand called ANZ at one of her London shows. The brand, founded by Ainy Naim, reinvents heritage knitwear and creates a "Palestine Forever" line with clothing donning statements like "free Palestine" and "Palestine is freeing us."

"I never wanna take it off," Ledé — who has often been vocal about her support for Palestine in the past — added in her post on Saturday.



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