Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at the homes of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday, hoping to disrupt Christmas morning for two of the president’s top foreign affairs officials. Biden.
“Austin, Austin, rise and shine, don’t sleep through the genocide!” Protesters were heard shouting in one of several clips shared by far-left organization The People’s Forum.
Other clips showed protesters chanting the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” widely understood as a genocidal call for Israel and its people to be wiped off the map.
Other videos showed protesters chanting the slogan “Free Palestine,” along with demands for a ceasefire by the Israel Defense Forces in the Gaza Strip.
The People’s Forum has opposed Israel’s military response to the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas against the Jewish state, which killed about 1,200 people, including 33 Americans.
The group also helped orchestrate the infamous October 8 demonstration in Times Square, during which Israeli flags were burned and a swastika was displayed toward pro-Israel counterprotesters.
Austin has traveled to Israel several times since October 7 and helped manage the Biden administration’s logistical and military support to the Jewish state.
It was not immediately clear if he or Sullivan were home at the time of the demonstration.
“Pro-Palestinian agitators show up at Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s home and harass him, as well as his entire neighborhood, this Christmas morning,” said the nonpartisan group Stop Antisemitism. wrote in X.
Lloyd Austin has publicly supported Israel in line with President Biden’s policy. Via REUTERS
“We’re not sure who needs to hear this, but harassing a four-star general who has served his country his entire career will not achieve a ‘Free Palestine.’”
In a group chat to encourage locals to attend the demonstration, activists promised that “There will be no Christmas as usual during the genocide!”
Protesters were allegedly marching in the Lloyd Austin neighborhood. X / @PeoplesForumNYC
“No member of this administration, from those who finance to those who arm and those who co-sign the genocide, will be allowed to rest while they allow the Zionist government [sic] aggression against Gaza. Join us now! There will be no rest for the imperialist war criminals!” they he wrote in a private Telegram chat.
Eventually, police intervened and threatened to arrest them, causing the crowd to disperse and head to the DuPont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC, according to the Telegram channel.
In DuPont, activists held a rally near Sullivan’s home and made similar demands that he push for a ceasefire.
Jake Sullivan has had several high-level meetings with key players in the Middle East since the war broke out. REUTERS Protesters accused the Biden administration of supporting genocide. X / @PeoplesForumNYC
The People’s Forum described sullivan as “another war criminal.”
The Post contacted the City of Falls Church Police Department and the DC Metropolitan Police Department for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
The Biden administration has drawn criticism from the left for its strong support for Israel and its promise to destroy Hamas.
However, the White House has privately implored Israel to begin winding down operations within weeks and to pay more attention to civilian casualties.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn