(C) Common Dreams
This story was originally published by Common Dreams and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Protester Hit With 'We Love Joe' Sign During Biden's DNC Speech [1]
['Khaleda Rahman', 'David Faris', 'Paul Du Quenoy']
Date: 2024-08-20 03:57:51-04:00
A delegate holding a banner protesting Israel's war in Gaza was hit with a "We Love Joe" sign during President Joe Biden's speech at the Democratic National Convention, according to video posted on social media.
A man was seen using a three-foot sign to reach across two lower rows of seating and hit the woman, who was wearing a hijab, on the head several times in a period of a few seconds.
Other video showed the woman and other attendees had unfurled a banner that read "STOP ARMING ISRAEL" a few minutes into Biden's speech.
Social media users expressed anger at the incident, with some calling for the man who hit the woman with the sign to face charges.
Emily Soong, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Convention, told Newsweek: "The right to peacefully protest is fundamental to American democracy and a core belief of the Democratic Party. We expect all of our delegates and guests to treat each other with respect."
Sorry guys I deleted my tweet bc these aren't uncommitted delegates. Reposting the video here pic.twitter.com/NYTsi3eHDQ — Akela Lacy (@akela_lacy) August 20, 2024
Lauren Steiner, an activist, told Newsweek that she organized the protest inside the convention hall with several delegates to protest the Biden administration's continued support for Israel's war in Gaza.
"While I'm no longer in the party, I have been very active as a Jewish person fighting this genocide and felt I had to help organize something like this at this convention," she said.
The protesters had initially planned to chant "ceasefire now," but "with only four people, no one would hear us," Steiner said. "So we decided to hold up a banner with the more controversial 'Stop Arming Israel,' which is the main demand to stop the genocide."
She shared a photo of the banner on X, writing: "Here's the sign we made. We penetrated their tightly controlled, hermetically sealed Hollywood coronation show, despite them delisting and intimidating ceasefire delegates."
Video showed the banner was wrestled away from the protesters by two men in the section behind them.
Gaza protesters unfurled a sign saying "Stop Arming Israel" shortly after President Joe Biden took the stage. It was soon swiped away.
Video provided to @Suntimes by student journalist Arunima Chaudhary of @wyhs
https://t.co/x7ALUaVTey pic.twitter.com/gGEib2Q2uL — Mitchell Armentrout (@mitchtrout) August 20, 2024
Democratic delegates in front of the banner had sought to block it with their "We Love Joe" signs, Dylan Wells, a Washington Post reporter who was at the event being held at the United Center in Chicago, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Lights in that section of the convention hall were turned off as the protesters were removed, Wells added.
The incident came as thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in Chicago on the DNC's opening day in a show of anger against the Biden administration's continued support of Israel's war in Gaza.
Biden used part of his speech to address the ongoing war, acknowledging that those protesting "have a point."
"We're working around the clock, my secretary of state, to prevent a wider war and reunite hostages with their families and surge humanitarian health and food assistance into Gaza now," Biden said. "To end the civilian suffering of the Palestinian people and finally, finally, finally deliver a ceasefire and end this war."
An attendee holds a "We Love Joe" sign during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19, 2024. Video posted on social media appeared to show a woman being hit... An attendee holds a "We Love Joe" sign during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19, 2024. Video posted on social media appeared to show a woman being hit with one of the signs while she held a banner protesting Israel's war in Gaza. More Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
He added: "Those protesters out in the street, they have a point. A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides."
Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, the AP reported, citing Gaza's Health Ministry. Officials say the true death toll is likely to be far higher as many bodies remain buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed by airstrikes. The vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million have been displaced, often multiple times, and aid workers have warned of an outbreak of polio as the humanitarian crisis in the territory worsens.
Now in its 11th month, Israel's offensive began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. About half were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November.
Follow Newsweek's live DNC updates here.
Update 8/20/24, 6:08 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 8/20/24, 8:25 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Lauren Steiner.
Update 8/20/24, 12:43 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Emily Soong.
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.newsweek.com/israel-protester-hit-we-love-joe-sign-biden-dnc-speech-1941601
Published and (C) by Common Dreams
Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0..
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/commondreams/
