Pro-Palestine protestors say US SecDef an 'accomplice to genocide'
2 Min Read
Pro-Palestinian protestors confront Lloys Austin following his hearing regarding his undisclosed hospitalization.
-
Code Pink protesters protesting events in Gaza ahead of the arrival of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the House Armed Services Committee, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington (AP)
Pro-Palestinian protestors confronted US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday as he left a House Armed Services Committee hearing, according to the co-founder of the peace group CODEPINK, Medea Benjamin.
Benjamin reported the incident on X, referring to Austin as the 'secretary of genocide'.
In the video Benjamin published, protestors can be heard calling for a ceasefire, and referring to Austin as an 'accomplice to genocide'.
NOW: We just confronted @SecDef Lloyd Austin as he exited today's House hearing.
— Medea Benjamin (@medeabenjamin) February 29, 2024
He is the SECRETARY OF GENOCIDE! The blood is on his hands! pic.twitter.com/hcQOCPIV7y
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was set to testify before lawmakers, on Thursday, at the US Capitol regarding his undisclosed hospitalization last month for prostate cancer treatment. The unexpected nature of his medical condition surprised the entire US government, including President Joe Biden.
Austin was scheduled to testify before the House Armed Services Committee at 10:00 am (Local Time), addressing the situation related to his delayed communication about his recent hospitalization and its impact on the US president.
Initially admitted to the hospital on January 1 due to complications arising from a December surgical procedure for prostate cancer treatment, Austin's hospitalization details were not promptly conveyed to the White House by the Defense Department. This led to an investigation by the Pentagon Inspector General.
Read more: US SecDef arrives in occupied Palestine to oversee weapons delivery
Reps enraged by Austin's hospitalization secrecy
Previously, Republicans in Congress responded angrily to revelations that the Pentagon waited several days to notify top officials about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's illness. Some Republican senators have already demanded that Austin testify or be ousted due to what one has described as a "serious breakdown" in communication.
Senior Defense Department and White House officials are still unaware of the procedure's specifics, and there has also been no explanation for the decision to keep information about Austin's medical emergency from the public, including the President.
Austin issued a statement on Saturday in response to a POLITICO article about the three-day gap between his hospitalization and the White House knowing about it.
