US Capitol Police arrest Jewish activists calling for Israel arms embargo
Al Jazeera
Hundreds of advocates rallied at Capitol Hill on the eve of Netanyahu’s speech to urge an end to weapons transfers to Israel.
Washington, DC – The rotunda of an office building in the United States Capitol complex filled in minutes with hundreds of people who appeared as if from nowhere, as part of a surprise protest against Israel’s war in Gaza.
“Let Gaza live,” they chanted in unison inside the Cannon House Office Building, removing their outer garments to reveal matching red T-shirts.
One side of the shirt read, “Jews say stop arming Israel.” The other side: “Not in our name.”
Tuesday’s coordinated protest, led by Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), took Congressional staffers and law enforcement agents aback, as it came together within minutes.
But the crackdown started almost immediately after the protesters assembled. Capitol Police quickly declared the area a closed “zone” and arrested hundreds of demonstrators who refused to leave.
