Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Washington, DC on Saturday chanting “Palestine will be free” and accusing President Biden of genocide at a rally demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” shouted the crowd dotted with Palestinian flags and signs at the start of the event, which drew attendees from across the country.
The chant – which is becoming increasingly popular following Hamas’ deadly incursion into southern Israel last month and Israel’s subsequent retaliatory attacks on Gaza – is widely considered anti-Semitic because it implies the elimination of the State of Israel and its town.
Others chanted: “Long live the Intifada,” an Arabic word used to refer to the Palestinian uprising, specifically the conflicts that took place between 1987 and 1993 and between 2000 and approximately 2005, which left thousands dead.
As protesters began marching through the streets of DC, many stopped in front of the White House to shout at Biden to call for a ceasefire. It is unclear if Biden was there.
DC police have been surrounding the White House by helicopter. according to a user.
Tens of thousands of protesters, including rapper Macklemore, could be seen from miles away as their roaring chants filled the streets from around 1pm.
Earlier in the day, an Israeli supporter, who was seen walking through the streets with the country’s flag draped over his shoulders, was courteously escorted by police, according to Poster X.
As the protest took shape in the nation’s capital, about 200 pro-Palestinian protesters blocked traffic in Manhattan’s Herald Square on Saturday afternoon, demanding a ceasefire, before the crowd headed east toward the United Nations. , where the crowd increased to 2,000, police sources told The Mail.
Other protests have also broken out around the world, including in London, where at least 11 people were arrested by the Metropolitan Police for various reasons, including carrying signs threatening to burn down Parliament House.
In Washington, speakers from several organizations took the stage to encourage the crowd’s “righteous anger” in response to the deaths of around 9,000 Palestinians in Gaza since Israeli airstrikes began following the horrific October 7 attacks on the south. From Israel.
Thousands of people attended the demonstration on Saturday afternoon.AFP via Getty Images
Many of the speakers referred to the United States’ role as Israel’s main ally in the ongoing war against Hamas, including a $14.3 billion aid package passed by the House this week.
“Biden, Biden, you can’t hide! We accuse you of genocide! an MC shouted into the microphone, drawing applause from the audience.
Several protesters claiming to work for the Biden administration and members of Congress joined the protest. holding signs that said: “Congress and your team demand a ceasefire” and “Biden, your team demand a ceasefire.”
A spokesperson for the Chicago Chapter of the American Palestinian Community Network said Biden was “dehumanizing” Palestinians.
“It is nothing as usual as our elected officials support genocide,” he shouted into the microphone.
The protest included chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” AFP via Getty Images
“Israel has no right to exist as a racist state.”
The speaker said the Palestinians wanted to then build a “secular” society “from the river to the sea.”
“It’s okay to rebel! Israel can go to hell! Marte White, who said he was from Community Movement Builders, a national black activist group, shouted during his turn at the microphone.
Palestinians have the right to fight “by any means necessary… and I mean any means necessary!” White said, presumably referring to Hamas massacring and maiming 1,400 Israelis in a few hours on October 7.
“Everyone should support the fight against Zionism and support the Palestinian people,” White concluded.
Protesters from across the country flocked to Liberty Square for the event. AFP via Getty Images
After White’s particularly fierce rhetoric, the MCs called for a moment of silence for the “martyrs” killed in Gaza over the past four weeks.
At that moment, a white tarp was unfurled over part of the crowd in a silent call for peace.
Following the moment of silence, Dr. Omar Suleiman referred to the Israeli government as “apartheid” and addressed violence against Palestinian youth in Gaza, the West Bank and beyond, including the six-year-old Chicago boy who was stabbed. by his landlord.
“Know that when [people] “They say they ‘support Israel,’ they are saying they ‘support genocide,’” he said.
“This has been one of the most difficult months of my life, and I am the post-Oslo [Accords] generation,” said a speaker from the Palestinian Youth Movement, referring to the 1993 pact negotiated by the Clinton administration.
“This has been one of the most difficult months in history for our people.”
The protesters also called for the liberation of Palestine.AFP via Getty Images
“We have a deep conviction that Palestine will be free in our lifetime,” he insisted. “It’s 75 years of delayed justice! We demand a stop from everyone [US] Help the Zionist State of Israel!”
The crowd eventually grew so large that part of the group was asked to move to allow another wave to join in from around the corner.
The Palestinian national anthem was played over speakers from the stage as the maneuvers took place.
Despite the speakers’ frequent anti-Semitic tone, one woman, Ahlam of Maryland2Palestine, insisted that “righteous anger is not hate, it is love.”
“We should be angry when our money goes to fund these entities,” he said of US and corporate support for Israel’s efforts to defeat Hamas.
Ahlam called for a continued boycott of companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s that have expressed solidarity with Israel.
“We will not write our names on Starbucks cups while Palestinian children write their names on their arms so their bodies can be identified after an airstrike!” she cried.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn