NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly 100 protesters were arrested during a demonstration Monday calling on Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to block the sale of thousands of U.S. bombs to Israel.
Led by the antiwar group Jewish Voice for Peace, the crowd of hundreds attempted to stage a sit-in inside the Manhattan offices of the two Democratic lawmakers, accusing them of complicity in Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflicts with Iran. After demonstrators were blocked by security from entering the building, they stopped traffic outside, chanting slogans like “fund people, not bombs” as they were arrested and escorted onto buses.
Among those arrested were whistleblower Chelsea Manning, actor Hari Nef, and New York City Council Member Alexa Avilés, according to JVP spokespersons.
The protest focused on a set of resolutions introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders that aim to block the proposed sale of over $600 million worth of bombs to Israel. Previous efforts by Sanders have failed, but the summer's push gained support from a majority of Senate Democrats, excluding Schumer and Gillibrand, amid increasing humanitarian crises in Gaza.
With rising military actions by Israel impacting civilians in Lebanon, protesters urged Schumer and Gillibrand to heed their constituents' demands and rethink U.S. military support for Israel. “This is the moment when Schumer and Gillibrand must listen to their constituents,” stated Sonya Meyerson-Knox from Jewish Voice for Peace.
Inquiries to both Schumer and Gillibrand regarding their stance over the arms deal had not been returned by press time.
Led by the antiwar group Jewish Voice for Peace, the crowd of hundreds attempted to stage a sit-in inside the Manhattan offices of the two Democratic lawmakers, accusing them of complicity in Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflicts with Iran. After demonstrators were blocked by security from entering the building, they stopped traffic outside, chanting slogans like “fund people, not bombs” as they were arrested and escorted onto buses.
Among those arrested were whistleblower Chelsea Manning, actor Hari Nef, and New York City Council Member Alexa Avilés, according to JVP spokespersons.
The protest focused on a set of resolutions introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders that aim to block the proposed sale of over $600 million worth of bombs to Israel. Previous efforts by Sanders have failed, but the summer's push gained support from a majority of Senate Democrats, excluding Schumer and Gillibrand, amid increasing humanitarian crises in Gaza.
With rising military actions by Israel impacting civilians in Lebanon, protesters urged Schumer and Gillibrand to heed their constituents' demands and rethink U.S. military support for Israel. “This is the moment when Schumer and Gillibrand must listen to their constituents,” stated Sonya Meyerson-Knox from Jewish Voice for Peace.
Inquiries to both Schumer and Gillibrand regarding their stance over the arms deal had not been returned by press time.
