Capitol police clash with protesters outside DNC headquarters
Good morning,
Capitol police clashed with dozens of demonstators outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC on Wednesday evening during a demonstration for a ceasefire in Gaza where Israeli forces have killed over 11,000 Palestinians in the last five weeks.
Demonstrators linked arms in front of the DNC building where several Democratic representatives including House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries were inside for a campaign reception.
“Which side are you on?” yelled some demonstrators while others wore black shirts with the words “Cease Fire Now.” Protestors said they wanted to block the building’s entrances and exits to force politicians to encounter their candlelight vigil, the Associated Press reports.
However, clashes quickly erupted as police used pepper spray and fired chemical irritants into the crowd. One protestor told the Associated Press that police started “pulling on folks that are disabled or have chronic illnesses, pulling people to the ground.”
Meanwhile, capitol police said that approximately 150 people were “illegally and violently protesting” and that one person was arrested “for assault on an officer.”
The demonstration comes as Joe Biden maintained his refusal to call for a ceasefire. Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping on Wednesday night, Biden said, “Hamas has already said publicly that they plan on attacking Israel again…so the idea that they’re going to just stop and not do anything is not realistic.”
Biden’s comments come as the UN security council backed a resolution on Wednesday night calling for “urgent extended humanitarian pauses” in Gaza.
Here are other developments in US politics:
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The Senate has passed a stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown.
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The House ethics committee will not recommend punishment for New York’s Republican representative George Santos who is accused of fraud.
Key events
“Calling for a ceasefire is not a radical or fringe demand,” said Renée Paradis of the Democratic Socialists of America following last night’s ceasefire demonstrations.
She added:
“A supermajority of Americans and an even bigger majority of Democrats want a Ceasefire NOW. It’s the Democratic Party that’s out of step with their own base, in favor of the politics of their big donors, providing full support for Israel’s genocidal actions.
Tonight, police lied about the protest being violent, even as they roughed up protestors, sprayed tear gas on the crowd, and literally trampled vigil candles beneath their feet. We know lasting peace can only be achieved through a just end to the occupation, and call upon the federal government–who could stop the war tomorrow with a single phone call–to stop sending military aid to Israel.”
Here are some images coming through the newswires of last night’s ceasefire demonstrations outside the Democratic National Committee’s building:
Sumaya Awad, a member of New York City’s Democratic Socialists of America, condemned the Democratic party following last night’s ceasefire demonstrations, saying:
“The Democratic party just showed exactly how it feels about its voters… The Israeli military just stormed a hospital in Gaza, airstrikes have killed over 4,500 children, and water is running out. Over 80% of Democratic voters are demanding a ceasefire and brought that message of peace to party leadership, who responded by unleashing an incredibly violent police attack on them.”
Jewish Voice for Peace Action has also released a separate statement on last night’s ceasefire demonstrations, saying:
“The activists were joined by faith leaders in calling for a ceasefire to end the Israeli military’s massacre of Palestinians, to facilitate a hostage exchange, and to ensure that humanitarian and medical aid can reach Palestinians in besieged Gaza.
As hundreds of anti-war protestors assembled with 11,000 candles and signs calling for a ceasefire, DC police, many in riot gear, rushed the candlelight vigil and attacked protestors blocking some of the entrances to the doors of the DCCC.
According to Jeff Ordower, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, the DC police rushed the protestors without warning. ‘We’ve been doing actions in DC for decades, and have never had police refuse to talk to a police liaison.’”
Organizers: ‘Over 90 non-violent protesters injured by DC police’
Organizers of last night’s ceasefire demonstrations has released a statement on the “violent police response”, saying that over 90 no-nviolent protesters were injured by capitol police.
In a joint statement released by If Not Now, Jewish Voice for Peace Action and Democratic Socialists of America, the groups said:
On Wednesday evening, a coalition of Jewish and allied protesters non-violently blocked one entrance to the DNC headquarters. Police violently attacked them, causing over 90 injuries, including being pepper sprayed, minor cuts and dragged by the hair …
Protesters were choked and violently handled by multiple office[r]s at once, thrown against the wall, then grabbed and picked up and thrown down the front stairs. At least two protestors’ glasses were smashed by the police. Dozen of people were kicked, kneed and punched in the face by police officers. People were shoved down the stairs and tackled to the pavement by cops running at full speed.”
Capitol police clash with protesters outside DNC headquarters
Good morning,
Capitol police clashed with dozens of demonstators outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC on Wednesday evening during a demonstration for a ceasefire in Gaza where Israeli forces have killed over 11,000 Palestinians in the last five weeks.
Demonstrators linked arms in front of the DNC building where several Democratic representatives including House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries were inside for a campaign reception.
“Which side are you on?” yelled some demonstrators while others wore black shirts with the words “Cease Fire Now.” Protestors said they wanted to block the building’s entrances and exits to force politicians to encounter their candlelight vigil, the Associated Press reports.
However, clashes quickly erupted as police used pepper spray and fired chemical irritants into the crowd. One protestor told the Associated Press that police started “pulling on folks that are disabled or have chronic illnesses, pulling people to the ground.”
Meanwhile, capitol police said that approximately 150 people were “illegally and violently protesting” and that one person was arrested “for assault on an officer.”
The demonstration comes as Joe Biden maintained his refusal to call for a ceasefire. Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping on Wednesday night, Biden said, “Hamas has already said publicly that they plan on attacking Israel again…so the idea that they’re going to just stop and not do anything is not realistic.”
Biden’s comments come as the UN security council backed a resolution on Wednesday night calling for “urgent extended humanitarian pauses” in Gaza.
Here are other developments in US politics:
-
The Senate has passed a stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown.
-
The House ethics committee will not recommend punishment for New York’s Republican representative George Santos who is accused of fraud.
