On Tuesday, a large number of pro-Palestine protestors pushed into the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building, occupying the room and chanting in favor of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
BREAKING: Jewish protesters for a #FreePalestine flood rotunda of Canon Building demanding CeaseFire chanting NOT IN OUR NAME!”
Stop #Gazagenocide pic.twitter.com/XopVI1yEfq
— #StopCopCity (@ChuckModi1) October 18, 2023
The protestors dressed in all black shirts reading “NOT IN OUR NAME.” Their signs said “JEWS SAY CEASEFIRE NOW,” “CEASEFIRE” and “MOURN THE DEAD, AND FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR THE LIVING.”
The activist group Jewish Voice for Peace, which was one of the organizers of the protest, said “over 350 demonstrators, including two dozen rabbis” made up the crowd. The other organizer, If Not Now, brought the number of demonstrators to 400. They recited prayers, read testimonials from Palestinians, and sang in English and Hebrew.
According to one report, Capitol Police arrested 100 individuals and sealed off access to the Capitol complex. U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) confirmed that such demonstrations are prohibited inside Congressional buildings and stated they were working to clear the crowd on Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier, Rep. Rashia Tlaib (D-MI) spoke at the protest, repeating the contested claim that Israel bombed a hospital in the Gaza Strip today. The New York Times was criticized for breathlessly reporting that Israel carried out the attack.
Happening NOW:
📍U.S. CapitolCongresswoman @RashidaTlaib speaks to the rally calling for a ceasefire and end of the conflict.
She breaks down stating Israel bombed a hospital killing 500 – this report is now in question
WATCH: pic.twitter.com/fZlHXkUjRc
— Wid Lyman (@Wid_Lyman) October 18, 2023
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) went live on the scene, showing both the protests inside the rotunda and the large crowd outside repeatedly chanting “Ceasefire now! Ceasefire now!”
There’s an insurrection happening now on Capitol Hill https://t.co/hBMIcv3pqW
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 18, 2023
Conservative critics raised the question as to whether this protest will be categorized as a domestic terrorist event like the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
So, which one of these looks more like an “insurrection” to you? pic.twitter.com/QL5pdoS5OB
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 18, 2023
UPDATE: As of Thursday, Oct. 19, an estimated 300 arrests had been made according to the organizers. The Capitol Police did not say how many had been arrested but only noted that three people had been charged with Assault on a Police Officer.
Arrests in the Canon Rotunda and the rolling road closures are ongoing.
Amongst these arrests, three people have been arrested and charged with Assault on a Police Officer during processing.
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) October 18, 2023
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