‘We’re not complicit in this war’: Thousands march in DC in support of Palestine, demand ceasefire
Thousands of people took part in a march in support of Palestine in downtown D.C. Saturday afternoon.
Demonstrators — young, old and Palestinian Americans — flooded the streets of the District during the “National March on Washington: Free Palestine!” rally organized by the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition.
Many wore traditional Palestinian black-and-white checkered keffiyeh scarves on their heads and shoulders.
One of the demonstrators — Jenene from Indiana — insisted that Palestinian voices be heard.
“We want our message to be loud and clear to (President Joe) Biden, ‘We’re not complicit in this war’,” she told WTOP.
The purposes of the rally and march, according to the coalition, are to demand a ceasefire in the war, end federal aid to Israel and “end apartheid.”
“What we want is we need an immediate ceasefire. You have too much death that’s happening on a day-to-day basis,” said Jamel Zayyad, a protestor who traveled from Chicago.
Organizers also held a vigil at Lafayette Park.
On Oct. 7, Hamas unleashed a barrage of militant foot soldiers on hundreds of civilians in southern Israel. The Associated Press reported that at least 1,400 people died on the Israeli side, mainly civilians during that initial attack.
Since then, Israel has launched counterattacks onto the Gaza strip with airstrikes that have caused considerable destruction to buildings and neighborhoods. As a result, over 9,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and in the West Bank, The Associated Press reported.
Solidarity demonstrations are also gathering this weekend across the country in major cities including Nashville, Los Angeles, New York City and Portland.
On Friday, 56 people were arrested during the Israel-Gaza protests at multiple congressional offices and were charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding.
At the moment, D.C. police says there are no street closures expected for Saturday’s demonstration, but stick with WTOP for the latest traffic news.
The Associated Press and WTOP’s Ciara Wells contributed to this story.