Current:Home > ScamsPolice make arrests after protest outside Democratic HQ calling for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war-InfoLens
Police make arrests after protest outside Democratic HQ calling for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war
View Date:2024-12-23 10:55:18
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! (98858)
Related
- Cruel Intentions' Brooke Lena Johnson Teases the Biggest Differences Between the Show and the 1999 Film
- Tom Cruise and Ex Nicole Kidman's Son Connor Cruise Goes Golfing in Rare Photo
- Jamie Lee Curtis Congratulates Film Daughter Lindsay Lohan on Pregnancy With the Ultimate Message
- Granger Smith Sends Support to Shaquil Barrett After Daughter's Drowning Death
- Texas man accused of supporting ISIS charged in federal court
- Blake Lively Shares Hilariously Relatable Glimpse Into Her At-Home Met Gala 2023 Celebration
- Is Ryan Reynolds Attending Met Gala 2023 Without Wife Blake Lively? He Says...
- Edward Garvey
- Jury awards Abu Ghraib detainees $42 million, holds contractor responsible
- Oregon Ducks Football Star Spencer Webb’s Girlfriend Kelly Kay Recalls Him Dying in Her Arms
Ranking
- J.Crew Outlet Quietly Drops Their Black Friday Deals - Save Up to 70% off Everything, Styles Start at $12
- Olivia Wilde's Revenge Dress Steals the Show at 2023 Met Gala
- See How Rihanna, Kylie Jenner and More Switched Up Their Met Gala Looks for After-Party Attire
- Olivia Wilde Has Unexpected Twinning Moment With Margaret Zhang at the Met Gala 2023
- Jeep slashes 2025 Grand Cherokee prices
- OnlyFans Models Honor Christina Ashten Gourkani, Kim Kardashian Look-Alike, After Death at 34
- Nordstrom 75% Off Shoe Deals: Tory Burch, Katy Perry, Nike, Dolce Vita, BCBG, and More
- Pregnant Rihanna Has Smurfs on the Brain: All the Details on Her New Role
Recommendation
-
Princess Kate to host annual Christmas carol service following cancer treatment
-
Jerry Springer’s Cause of Death Revealed
-
Miley Cyrus' Mom Tish Cyrus Is Engaged to Prison Break Star Dominic Purcell
-
Why James Kennedy Wants Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss' Love to Survive Cheating Scandal
-
Taylor Swift's Dad Scott Swift Photobombs Couples Pic With Travis Kelce
-
Going to a Big Event? How to Get Red Carpet Ready on a Budget
-
Nicola and Brooklyn Peltz Beckham Are Perfectly Posh at Met Gala 2023
-
Inside Taylor Swift's Gorgeous Friendship With Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds