Anti-Israeli protesters took over the US senator’s office on Thursday and demanded that the nation agree to negotiate an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas.
“Genocide Gillibrand must go,” protesters chanted after occupying the senator’s office.
Anti-Israel protesters occupy Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s office chanting “Gillibrand genocide must go” pic.twitter.com/jdNZlTKXh8
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 10, 2023
“Stand up for Palestine,” they also chanted.
Political commentator @amuse compared the sit-in to the infamous J6 “uprising” where, in addition to violent rioters, scores of peaceful protesters marched through the capital without permission and occupied then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office.
Uprising: Hamas supporters occupied Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s Capitol office longer than J6 protesters. Are any of them in jail? pic.twitter.com/AtEW3LToJa
— @amuse (@amuse) November 10, 2023
“Uprising: Hamas supporters occupied Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s Capitol office longer than J6 protesters – are any of them in jail?” he remarked
But anti-Israel protesters felt emboldened to ignore the example set by the J6 protesters and to flout laws against occupying federal offices.
“Hey, we’re not going anywhere,” one man said during the sit-in.
Protesters also pressed for a ceasefire to end Israel’s retaliation for a deadly assault on its civilians on October 7.
“Veterans demand a ceasefire. Veterans demand H. Res 786,” read one of the protester’s signs.
HR 786 is a proposed House resolution for an “immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine.”
The proposed resolution “urges the Biden administration to immediately request and facilitate a de-escalation and ceasefire to urgently end the current violence; and calls on the Biden administration to promptly send and facilitate the entry of “humanitarian aid to Gaza”.
Gillibrand, who is part Ashkenazi Jew by ethnicity, has been a frequent target of anti-Israel protesters. In October, more than 100 people calling for a ceasefire were arrested outside his office in New York City.
Gillibrand supported military assistance to Israel, including the resupply of missiles for the Iron Dome air defense system, after the horrific attack by Hamas in October.
“I strongly condemn the unprovoked terrorist attack launched by Hamas and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people,” Gillibrand said. “My heart goes out to the people of Israel whose lives have been torn apart by these savage acts of brutality. Throughout my career, I have worked with my colleagues in Congress to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars for the systems of Israel’s defense, and now that work will be more important than ever.”
“Today, I am calling for more funds and resources to restock Israel’s Iron Dome and for evacuation flights out of Israel to help Americans return home,” he continued. “I’m also calling on the Biden administration to quickly deliver to Congress any additional funding requests to help Israel. I’m also fighting to increase funding for at-risk nonprofit institutions, including synagogues, to make security improvements to allow New Yorkers to come together safely. This is a time to come together in unity and show the world that we are unwavering in our stand against anti-Semitism and hatred.”
Nearly half of Democrats disapprove of Biden’s response to the Israel-Hamas war, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
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