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Pro-Palestine, Anti-Zionist Demonstrators Enter U.S. Capitol

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib Said Protestors Were 'On The Right Side Of History'

Published: October 18, 2023
  |   By Christopher Bertman

Pro-Palestine protestors entered the nation’s Capitol to oppose Israel’s military response to last week’s attack on the Jewish state by Islamic militant group Hamas.

A heightened security posture and increased police presence was put in place Wednesday following reports of a demonstration at the U.S. Capitol.

“We have implemented additional security measures to ensure continued operations throughout the Capitol Campus,” reads a Tuesday email from Sergeant at Arms William P. McFarland to House staff.

“Access to the Capitol was restricted to Members, staff and others on ‘official business,'” according to McFarland’s email. House Members and others allowed on the premises were advised to use the Capitol tunnels.

After 2 p.m., protestors entered the Capitol and demonstrated from the Cannon Rotunda. Protestors included Palestinian supporters and members of Jewish Voices for Peace, an anti-Zionist group opposed to Israel’s retaliation on the Gaza Strip which houses Palestinians and is led by Hamas.

A group of demonstrators inside the Capitol held a black sign that read, “CEASEFIRE.”

Other videos of the event featured protestors marching toward the Capitol from the surrounding streets in Washington.

Demonstrators inside the Capitol Rotunda sang in protest while others held another sign reading, “MOURN THE DEAD, AND FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR THE LIVING.”

Shortly after 3 p.m., McFarland issued a House Alert of “First Amendment Activities” as protestors continued entering the Capitol.

“Due to First Amendment activities on Capitol Grounds, all pedestrian entry points to the House Office Buildings are restricted to Members and Staff ONLY,” reads the House Alert.

Public and Official Business Visitors (OBV) were instructed to enter through the Longworth “24/7” door at South Capitol Street “until further notice,” per the alert.

Capitol Police attempted to apprehend the growing number of demonstrators outside the Capitol.

Shortly after the House Alert was issued, Capitol police began arresting protestors inside the Capitol.

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who has been an outspoken supporter of Palestinians, spoke to demonstrators outside the Capitol about an alleged recent bombing of a hospital in the Gaza Strip.

“You know, what’s so hard sometimes is watching those videos and the people telling those kids, ‘Don’t cry,'” the Michigan Rep. said, referring to videos of the military conflict emerging on social media.

“If we’re not crying, something is wrong,” Tlaib said, sounding emotionally distressed.

Tlaib also took aim at President Joe Biden, who has expressed support for Israel amidst the conflict, saying, “Not all of America’s with you on this one.”

“You need to wake up and understand that,” she continued. “We are literally watching people commit genocide and kill a vast majority just like this,” she said as she pointed to the crowd of protestors.

Tlaib said protestors were on the “right side of history.”

Early Wednesday, New York Rep. Jerry Nadler noted Jewish Voices for Peace was an anti-Zionist organization. Nadler cited the group’s website which states members are “proud to be a part of the global, Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.”

“Which, by its founder’s admission and tenets, seeks to end Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State,” Nadler wrote of the group.

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