Current:Home > ScamsPolice make arrests after protest outside Democratic HQ calling for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war-LoTradeCoin
Police make arrests after protest outside Democratic HQ calling for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war
View Date:2024-12-24 09:35:18
WASHINGTON (AP) — Police in the nation’s capital responded Wednesday night to a protest outside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
U.S. Capitol Police said about 150 people were “illegally and violently protesting” near the DNC headquarters building in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington. Members of Congress were evacuated from the building as the protest erupted.
Video posted on social media showed protesters shoving police officers and trying to grab hold of metal barricades as the officers moved in to make arrests. The videos also show officers shoving protesters. Many of the protesters were wearing black shirts that read “Cease Fire Now.”
Protesters included members of If Not Now and Jewish Voice for Peace, who have organized other demonstrations in Washington.
Protester Dani Noble said the demonstrators came to the DNC on Wednesday night to peacefully call on Democratic Party leadership to support a cease-fire in Gaza. Instead, “we were met by police pulling on folks that are disabled or have have chronic illnesses, pulling people to the ground in riot gear,” Noble said.
Noble, who lives in Philadelphia and is a supporter of the group Jewish Voice for Peace, said no one group organized the protest, but instead it was a coalition of many groups and individuals who support a cease-fire.
“It is shameful the way that nonviolent protesters and members of our community were met with violence tonight. It is absolutely shameful,” Noble added.
The clashes Wednesday evening are the latest example of roiling tensions over the war between Israel and Hamas.
President Joe Biden has been under increasing pressure from the Democratic Party’s left flank over his support for Israel’s military operation, including interruptions from protesters at his speeches. He has resisted calls for a cease-fire, instead saying there should be pauses in the fighting to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the potential extraction of hostages.
Last week, a large number of House Democrats joined nearly all Republicans in voting to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, over her criticism of the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians. Tlaib, who has family in the West Bank, came under heavy criticism after she failed to immediately condemn Hamas after the attack. She since has called out the terrorist group while also calling for a cease-fire.
The Metropolitan Police Department said its officers also responded to the disturbance. Officials sent an alert to congressional staffers telling them no one would be permitted to enter or exit any House office buildings, but later reopened the entrances.
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., told The Associated Press that initially about 100 people — House leaders, lawmakers and Democratic candidates running for the House — were at the reception at party headquarters, and speeches were interrupted by the chants outside.
The Capitol police “came in force” and directed lawmakers into a secure room in the basement, he said. By that time, most of the leadership team, including House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, had already left.
About seven lawmakers were huddled in the basement and loaded into police SUVs.
The Capitol Police drove the lawmakers back to the Capitol and took some home, he said.
__
Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri, Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro and Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.
veryGood! (8)
Related
- The Stanley x LoveShackFancy Collaboration That Sold Out in Minutes Is Back for Part 2—Don’t Miss Out!
- Former Haitian senator sentenced to life in prison in 2021 assassination of Haiti’s president
- The EU’s naval force says a cargo ship hijacked last week has moved toward the coast of Somalia
- Madonna Reveals She Was in an Induced Coma From Bacterial Infection in New Health Update
- The Daily Money: Mattel's 'Wicked' mistake
- Chileans eschew extremes in quest for new constitution and end up with the old one
- Rodgers’ return will come next season with Jets out of playoff hunt and QB not 100% healthy
- Céline Dion lost control over her muscles amid stiff-person syndrome, her sister says
- NYC bans unusual practice of forcing tenants to pay real estate brokers hired by landlords
- Miranda Cosgrove Reveals Why She Doesn't Drink or Smoke
Ranking
- Gerry Faust, the former head football coach at Notre Dame, has died at 89
- George Clooney Says Matthew Perry Wasn’t Happy on Friends
- Pope Francis says priests can bless same-sex couples but marriage is between a man and a woman
- Tesla’s recall of 2 million vehicles to fix its Autopilot system uses technology that may not work
- Dick Van Dyke says he 'fortunately' won't be around for Trump's second presidency
- How to help foreign-born employees improve their English skills? Ask HR
- Lillard joins 20,000-point club, Giannis has triple-double as Bucks defeat Spurs 132-119
- Proof Rihanna Already Has Baby No. 3 on the Brain Months After Welcoming Son Riot
Recommendation
-
2 striking teacher unions in Massachusetts face growing fines for refusing to return to classroom
-
China’s Alibaba names CEO Eddie Wu to head its e-commerce business as its growth falters
-
How to help foreign-born employees improve their English skills? Ask HR
-
5-year-old twin boy and girl found dead in New York City apartment, investigation underway
-
Kentucky officer reprimanded for firing non-lethal rounds in 2020 protests under investigation again
-
5 people crushed after SUV topples over doing donuts in Colorado Springs, driver charged
-
Jake Paul is going to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Here's the info on his USA Boxing partnership
-
Mustafa Ahmed announces benefit concert for Gaza, Sudan with Omar Apollo, Ramy Youssef, more