(C) Common Dreams
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Thousands of Jews and allies shut down Capitol Hill. [1]
['Sarah Burch']
Date: 2023-10-19 15:04:55+00:00
We made history yesterday.
On Wednesday afternoon, thousands of American Jews and allies showed up to Capitol Hill to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israeli genocide of Palestinians.
It was the biggest Jewish protest in solidarity with Palestinians in U.S. history, according to writer and activist Naomi Klein, who spoke at the action. She was joined by U.S. representatives Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush.
As huge crowds protested outside, hundreds of Jews — including two dozen rabbis — held a sit-in inside one of the Capitol buildings, chanting “Not in our name” and “Ceasefire now.” We sang, we yelled, and we made our voices heard. At least 300 were arrested.
When asked why she had come, Rabbi Linda Holtzman, member of JVP’s Rabbinical Council, said simply: “Where there is no justice, I have to be a voice for justice.”
Our organizing is having an impact.
People are waking up. Yesterday, even the director of congressional and public affairs for the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs publicly resigned from his position. In his resignation letter, Josh Paul condemned Biden’s position of support for Israel’s war on Gaza, and said that the Biden administration’s “blind support for one side” was leading to policy decisions that were “shortsighted, destructive, unjust and contradictory to the very values we publicly espouse.”
The media was paying attention, too. You can see coverage of the Washington, D.C. rally, organized by JVP and IfNotNow, in the Washington Post, the New York Times, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, Fox News, al-Jazeera, and dozens of other outlets.
And we’re making an international impact. In France, where pro-Palestine demonstrations have been banned, a presidential candidate tweeted out a photo of our protest with the hashtag “ceasefire.” And media outlets from France to Dubai to Japan were on the ground, hearing our demands: Ceasefire now. End the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. No more Israeli violence — not in our names.
Tell Biden: Ceasefire NOW.
Yesterday, thousands of us marched on Capitol Hill to demand that Biden immediately facilitate a ceasefire in Gaza.
We also placed a full-page ad in the New York Times — bringing our message to 740,000 print subscribers. This petition already has over 40,000 signatures. Add your name now to our demand for a ceasefire.
Tell Congress: Ceasefire NOW.
Over 3,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed. But most members of Congress won’t even so much as acknowledge that Palestinians are being killed, or trapped under siege.
Any day now, elected officials will begin voting on hawkish resolutions and military funding packages that will fuel violence and mass atrocities by the Israeli government.
Call Congress right now. Demand a ceasefire. Demand no votes on these hawkish resolutions and sending more weapons to the Israeli military. Call and then call again.
Power Hours: Collective action every day.
In this dire moment, we’re channeling our grief and rage into action to stop the march to war and call for a ceasefire. Join us daily for JVP’s Power Half-Hours for Gaza at 3pm ET/12pm PT as we gather in solidarity and take collective action.
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[1] Url:
https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2023/10/thousa...
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