Around 50 protesters arrested over protest in Senate building which shut down cafeteria
Source: UK Independent
8 hours ago
More than 50 anti-Israel protesters were arrested after storming through a Senate office building, causing the cafeteria to be briefly shut down. Footage posted to social media on Tuesday showed the demonstration, in which dozens of protesters were seen chanting Senate cant eat until Gaza eats!
Later protesters were seen unfurling a large purple banner which read Christians for a Free Palestine. Another read Break bread not bodies. Campaign group Christians for a Free Palestine took credit for orchestrating the demonstration alongside CodePink, a self-described grassroots feminist organisation which has previously caused disruptions at congressional hearings.
The groups were pushing for Congress to back a ceasefire, restore aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and to end military aid to Israel. The protest took place at around 12.30pm ET inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Other footage later showed demonstrators being led away by police officers in handcuffs.
Approximately 50 people were arrested for illegally demonstrating inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building this afternoon. It is illegal to demonstrate inside any of the Congressional Buildings, the Capitol Police said in a statement shared with The Washington Post.
Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/protestors-arrests-senate-israel-gaza-cafeteria-b2526111.html
keopeli
(3,527 posts)Their actions certainly demonstrates their sincerity with regard to supporting the innocent and endangered Palestinians, and it does come at an enormous personal cost.
I just wonder:
Does it garner enough media attention to apply meaningful pressure on the Senators?
Does it help any Senator to see the Israel/Palestine issue differently?
Does it persuade the public to take more concrete steps in defense of Palestine?
Understand that I am NOT criticizing the pro-Palestine position, defending Israel/Netan-yahoo, or contradicting the message this group is trying to promote. I am simply uncertain that this type of protest/civil disobedience is effective in any way. In fact, I wonder if it might be counterproductive when all the costs and benefits are considered.
The Magistrate
(95,263 posts)Once expects they know, and if they don't, they merely demonstrate they are far too stupid to heed.
question everything
(47,551 posts)AnrothElf
(661 posts)Most likely these high-profile astroturf protests are explicitly designed as an to attempt to divide Democrats during an election year, in hopes of getting Trump re-elected.
PatSeg
(47,691 posts)Especially after Jan 6th. Poor choice to storm " through a Senate office building". There are better, more effective ways to protest. Meanwhile, occupants of that building would be justifiably paranoid about large groups of rowdy people entering the building.
LeftInTX
(25,681 posts)They get misdemeanor charges.
Ray Bruns
(4,123 posts)Shit on the floors?
LeftInTX
(25,681 posts)MarineCombatEngineer
(12,449 posts)Should've figured these fucking morons would be involved, they protest anything American all the while enjoying the 1st Amendment rights of Americans to protest.
What a bunch of fucking hypocrites.
Jacson6
(356 posts)Any one that suffers PTSD from the incident should sue all fifty of them for pain & suffering.
It is fine to have a civil protest in front of congress, but this is totally uncalled for.
ripcord
(5,553 posts)Seems they missed a memo or are actually working to discredit democrats.