An estimated 400 Pro-Palestinian Jewish demonstrators chanting “Ceasefire Now!” and calling for Congress to demand the fighting stop in Israel assailed the Cannon Rotunda on Capitol Hill on Wednesday afternoon.
The protestors were spotted wearing black T-shirts reading, “Jews Say Ceasefire Now!”
The group Jewish Voice for Peace said in a X post that “over 350″ demonstrators,” including two dozen rabbis,” are inside the large rotunda with thousands outside the U.S. Capitol.
The progressive organization also shared videos and photos of protesters singing and holding signs that read, “Stop Genocide in Gaza” and “My grief is not your weapon.”
“Today, thousands of American Jews and allies marched to the White House to demand that President [Joe] Biden use his leverage to implement a ceasefire and force Israel to halt its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza,” IfNotNow told Newsweek in a statement.
“Led by American Jews connected with IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace, today’s action represents a growing wave of Jewish, progressive, and youth leaders calling on President Biden to de-escalate the conflict, restrain Israeli aggression, and ensure the safe return of Israeli civilian hostages.”
U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) said that demonstrations are not allowed inside Congressional buildings and so cleared the crowd. USCP said in a X post that they warned the growing number of protesters to stop demonstrating and “when they did not comply we began arresting them.”
USCP did not say how many demonstrators have been arrested, but they confirmed to Fox News that demonstrators inside the Cannon Rotunda will be charged with illegally protesting inside a House Office Building.
“A large group of protesters are walking in the roadway around the House side of the Capitol Complex,” the USCP wrote in a X post. “For safety reasons, we have temporary rolling road closures in effect.”
One of the organizations behind the protest, IfNotNow, reported on X, formerly Twitter, that Secret Service Police began arresting demonstrators after the group reportedly blocked off all entrances to the White House.
