Over 60 anti-Israel protesters were detained by Capitol Police on Tuesday for breaching the historic Rotunda and vociferously demanding a Gaza ceasefire.
Under the pretense of being regular tourists, demonstrators infiltrated the Capitol complex and scattered children’s shoes on the floor, symbolizing the lives lost in the war with Israel.
Handcuffed on the ground, the chanting protesters were positioned in front of statues venerating American icons like George Washington, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and Harry Truman.
The group also urged Congress to abandon Biden’s $110 billion ‘deadly deal’ in the Senate—a substantial aid package—and called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict, as per Daily Mail.
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Scores of activists demanding an end to the violence in Gaza have frequently clashed with cops on Capitol Hill since the October 7 Hamas attack and have even chained themselves to the White House fence.
‘Stop funding violence against our communities,’ read one massive sign the demonstrators held up in the Capitol Rotunda.
‘Divest from militarism – invest in life,’ read other signs demonstrators waved overhead. ‘Protect immigrants and asylees’ and ‘ceasefire’ read others.
Africa Today News, New York reported that the protest unfolded during the holiday recess of the House, as the Senate sustained its session with notably reduced attendance. Meanwhile, leaders from opposing factions endeavored to strike a deal encompassing financial support for Ukraine and Israel, contingent upon the integration of innovative border security measures.
Biden grapples with heightened demands from the progressive left, urging him to take a stand for a ceasefire amid the increasing number of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza war.