Thousands March In Biggest Anti-Israel Protests In U.S. History (Video)
By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – At least tens of thousands of pro-Palestine protesters marched through Washington D.C., in one of the biggest anti-Israel protests in United States history.
At the rally, speakers focused on calls to end U.S. funding for Israel in the war, accusing President Joe Biden of backing a “genocide” of Palestinian people in the Israel-Hamas war.
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas, viewed as a terrorist organization by Israel and most of its allies.
Dubbed “Black Sabbath” in Israel, Hamas killed some 1,400 people, including men, women, and children, and kidnapped more than 200 others in the biggest recorded atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah.
Yet those descending on Washington D.C. demanded an end to the retaliatory bombings and ground offensive in Gaza that Israel says targets the Hamas military and infrastructure.
With some shouting “Allahu Akbar” or “Allah is Greatest,” crowds moved from Freedom Plaza to the White House, where they called for a cease-fire and an end to U.S. support for Israel.
As the sun set, protesters smeared the White House gates with red paint, eyewitnesses said.
‘GENOCIDE’ ALLEGATIONS
Back at Freedom Plaza on Saturday afternoon, speakers cried out against what they called “a genocide” in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry claims 9,000 people were killed since Israel began its military operations on October 7.
But critics say those figures are difficult to verify, and it remains unclear how many Hamas fighters are among those killed. Israel maintains it tries to avoid killing innocent residents, but accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields.
Among the speakers at Saturday’s rally was the rapper Macklemore, who told thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters he was “not afraid” to speak out against the war.
Earlier, hundreds of thousands of protesters around the world staged demonstrations in the last week.
Encouraged by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian calls for rage, protesters rallied in London, Istanbul, and elsewhere.
Major cities throughout the United States have also seen protests, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston.
In Saturday’s rally, organizers claimed some 100,000 people participated, while most independent observers spoke about tens of thousands of people. Dozens of buses packed with protesters could reportedly not reach the venue due to security measures in the nation’s capital.
Co-organizer Brian Becker hoped the gathering would be “the largest demonstration in support of the Palestinian people in the history of the United States.”
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