US Capitol police clash with pro-Palestine protest outside DNC HQ
2 Min Read
Three advocacy groups have organized the protest, including IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace Action, who took to X to say they were "assaulted" even though they stated their protest was "nonviolent".
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Candles lit by protesters line the street as US Capitol Police officers stand outside the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP)
Washington DC witnessed a clash between US Capitol police officers and pro-Palestinian protesters outside the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters calling on lawmakers to back a ceasefire in Gaza and end the genocide by "Israel" on Gaza.
Three advocacy groups organized the protest, including IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace Action, who took to X to say they were "assaulted" even though they stated their protest was "nonviolent".
"We were peacefully linking arms, singing, and calling for a ceasefire," IfNotNow posted, adding, "Then Capitol Police rushed in, threw us down the stairs, and pepper sprayed us."
This is dangerous & reckless disinformation, Congressman.
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) November 16, 2023
We were peacefully linking arms, singing, and calling for a ceasefire.
As you can see with your own eyes in this video.
Then Capitol Police rushed in, threw us down the stairs, and pepper sprayed us.
Retract this now. https://t.co/FqOc8ZfCd4 pic.twitter.com/Xerx1cSDXy
Read more: White House smeared with red paint by pro-Palestine supporters
Photos on social media show them donning black T-shirts with “Cease Fire Now” in white letters as they struggled with police officers trying to pull them away from the building.
Here’s what really happened at the DNC tonight.
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) November 16, 2023
Jews, Palestinians, & a multiracial coalition with @IfNotNowOrg @JVPAction @DemSocialists were peacefully demonstrating for a ceasefire — which 80% of Democrats support.
Capitol Police pepper sprayed US.
📸 Ryan Harvey/Rebel Lens pic.twitter.com/SEN3CecGFZ
Jewish Voice for Peace Action stated that the plan was to lay out 11,000 candles, representing the number of Palestinians killed by "Israel", but police interrupted with violence and pepper spray.
Civil disobedience
Eva Borgwardt, IfNotNow's spokesperson, expressed in a statement that the protest was a "moral act of civil disobedience to call on Democrats to support a cease-fire and an end to our government’s funding of violence against Palestinian civilians by Netanyahu’s far-right government."
Police rushed in without warning and began brutally assaulting - including pepper spraying - a peaceful antiwar vigil and demonstration calling for a #ceasefirenow.
— Jewish Voice for Peace Action (@JvpAction) November 16, 2023
Police gave no warnings to disperse and refused to speak with the police liaison on site.
🎥 @daveweigel pic.twitter.com/tFKTmj1vYU
Legislators at the DNC headquarters at the time were evacuated from the area by police.
In response, US Capitol police posted on X declared that the number of protesters was 150 and that they were "illegally and violently protesting" near the offices. It further claimed that one person was arrested for an alleged "assault on an officer."
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.
— The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) November 16, 2023
Earlier this week, "Israel's" ambassador to Moscow, Alexander Ben Zvi, relayed to journalists that pro-Palestine protests amid the war on Gaza are nothing but "manifestations of anti-Semitism".
"They are not just against Israel … it’s a new type of anti-Semitism," he added.
