The Pro Palestinian protests and news thread

essentialsaltes said:

Bay Bridge blocked off by pro-Palestinian protesters during APEC summit, Biden visit​

About 250 pro-Palestinian protesters blocked off traffic on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge for hours Thursday, with some people chaining themselves together across lanes and shutting down a vital Bay Area route during the busy morning commute.

In a post in the social media platform X, the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office said about 80 demonstrators were cited and released by its office and the San Francisco Police Department and CHP.

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Reasonably Sane said:

This is something that has annoyed me for decades. This could cause people stuck in traffic their lives (say, an ambulance). About 20 years ago there was a woman on the I-5 Bridge over the lake Union channel in Seattle that blocked tens of thousands of cars for hours. She was threatening to jump. The weak kneed city leaders and cops just pleaded for hours. If I were Chief, I'd have had a cop tied to a bungie cord walk toward her and tell her to come back and then when he got to her, he could grab her and either they fall, the cord saves them, or she jumps before he gets to her and, well, it was her choice. And tens or hundreds of thousands of lives go on their way.

i.e. I've been done with traffic blockers for a very long time. And I have no respect for politicians and cops that let them get away with it (think "Just Stop Oil" people these days).

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1,500 join rally in Tokyo calling for cease-fire to ‘Save Gaza’​

Wilmington NC rally for peace for Israel-Hamas War briefly interrupted by counterdemonstration by Proud Boys​

jacorian said:

We have not seen this level of anti-semitism in a long time. The public does not receive good information because journalism is basically gone. Some things I've learned. There is the idea that the land belongs to the Palestinians because of the British maneuvers circa 1948. Gee according to the Bible, the land was given to the Jewish people. Yes they got scattered-it's called the Diaspora but actually getting an official statehood does help. The Palestinians trace their heritage back to the Philistines & we know of one famous Philistine. I think I'll go with the minstrel shepherd instead. It may appear that modern day Jews were just European vagabonds or Russian vagabonds. This is not necessarily true. The Jewish line, which is traced thru the mother, goes way back to the Biblical times. The Jews were chased out by any number of parties along the way. I have more confidence in the Israelies in maintaining the unique status of Jerusalem, all the sacred sites & cultural landmarks for heritages. They are not out to violate these. The world values the status of Jerusalem as being a world capital to 3 religions. It is unfortunate that the ever presence of terrorism forces the number of security checkpoints & infrastructure to mitigate damage from explosions etc but again the Palestinians simply refuse to behave. Any of the terrorist groups are not for this land for peace deal. They simply cannot behave & many people would be concerned over Jerusalem. The Israelis had assigned the West Bank & Gaza to them. I think that is a pretty good offer. What positive things have the Palestinians contributed to humanity? Now one sees a bunch of armchair generals trying to call for a ceasefire. Have not we had enough ceasefires over the years & they have never brought peace. The Israelis dropped leaflets & also used media communication in Arabic. It is not in their interest to use munitions against civilizans. You don't eliminate incoming rockets by taking down someone's apartment, hello. What is going on at the college campus level & in some corners of Congress is despicable. Yes hate speech is free speech. But why so much hatred? Simple. The Jewish people have a tradition of success in education & profession. They have contributed something. They don't play the victim card. Even more appalling is for our VP to set up a mission to correct the Islamophobia in the US. Really? Here Israel is attacked. Sounds to me like they are more concerned about maintaining the vote from Michigan. For the most part, now 2 decades after 9-11, I don't think most Americans walk around with an Islamic complex. We see these people in grocery stores, in school, at work, etc. They have now been here. No one is going out to blow up mosques. We also have the pro-Palestinian crowd protesting in the halls of Congress. Hey you guys started it & they should be made aware that our Congress sends aid to the Palestinians. They should be thankful that John Q American gets no say in that matter.

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34 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested for disrupting Macy’s parade, police say​

KJZZ News reporter covering Tucson pro-Palestinian protest among several people arrested​

Protester sets themself on fire outside Israel consulate in Atlanta, Georgia​

essentialsaltes said:

"It is tragic to see the hate and incitement toward Israel expressed in such a horrific way," she added.

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essentialsaltes said:

Protester sets themself on fire outside Israel consulate in Atlanta, Georgia​

A protester is in a critical condition after lighting themself on fire at the Israeli consulate in the US state of Georgia in what police called an "extreme act of political protest".

Police said the demonstrator used petrol, and a Palestinian flag was found at the scene, outside the mission in Atlanta.

"We believe this building remains safe and we do not see any threat here," Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said. "We believe this was an act of political protest."

In a statement, the consul general of Israel to the south-east US, Anat Sultan-Dadon, said that the diplomatic mission is "saddened to learn of the self-immolation at the entrance to the office building".

"It is tragic to see the hate and incitement toward Israel expressed in such a horrific way," she added.

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Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather outside Biden fundraiser​

essentialsaltes said:

This thread actually has a topic.

Jewish activists rallying for Gaza cease-fire shut down Hollywood intersection​

Jewish activist groups organized a rally that shut down the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue on Wednesday, a move of civil disobedience as they advocated for a cease-fire in Gaza.

The rally was co-organized by the groups IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace, both of which are urging a ceasefire in Gaza. Participants at the event were holding signs reading, “Jews say no to genocide,” and chanting, “Rain or shine, Free Palestine!” amid Wednesday’s rainstorm.

By 7:50 p.m., the protesters had cleared the intersection, and traffic had resumed. No arrests were made as a result of the event.

[article notes a simultaneous protest in DC involving some of the same groups that did not run as smoothly, though there is plenty of finger pointing at this time.]

Top House Democrats evacuated from DNC headquarters as police clash with protesters calling for Gaza ceasefire​

Law enforcement clashed with protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war outside of the Washington headquarters of the Democratic National Committee Wednesday night after authorities said the demonstration turned violent and lawmakers were evacuated from the building.

“Tonight 6 officers were treated for injuries – ranging from minor cuts to being pepper sprayed to being punched. One person has been arrested for assault on an officer. We appreciate our officers who kept these illegal & violent protesters back & protected everyone in the area,” US Capitol Police, who responded with DC Metropolitan Police, said in a statement on X.

Officers, according to USCP, had worked “to keep back approximately 150 people who are illegally and violently protesting” in the area – a characterization activist groups later disputed

Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, said in a statement Wednesday night that “hundreds of peaceful anti-war activists came to the DNC to call for an end to bombs and violence in order to save Palestinian and Israeli lives.”

“They were met with brutal assaults by the police,” Miller continued. “The Democrats need to decide: will they stand on the side of peace and justice, or will they continue to support war and genocide?”

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Gaza protesters shut down L.A. freeway, angry drivers lash out: ‘Just hurting working people’​

essentialsaltes said:

Gaza protesters shut down L.A. freeway, angry drivers lash out: ‘Just hurting working people’​

Calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, they chanted, sang in Hebrew and erected a 7-foot menorah in the middle of the freeway in downtown L.A. on Wednesday. Behind them, those at the vanguard of a miles-long traffic jam grew heated.

Videos from news helicopters and social media showed angry motorists exiting their vehicles and skirmishing with the demonstrators south of the interchange with the 101 Freeway.

Authorities arrested 75 protesters on suspicion of failing to comply with a dispersal order, according to the CHP.

Organizers with IfNotNow, the progressive Jewish group behind the protest, apologized to drivers but said they felt there was no other way to make their voices heard to stop the killing and mass displacement in the Middle East.

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Protesters block traffic near LAX to demand Gaza Strip cease-fire​

hislegacy said:

Violence from Pro Palestinian protestors continues

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hislegacy said:

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators defend violence in Israel as resistance against oppression​

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Opinion: Germany pledged ‘never again.’ Here’s how it’s grappling with Israel’s bombing of Gaza​