US police arrested 10 people, most of them university students on Wednesday, for protesting US support for the Israeli aggression on Gaza, as they boycotted a congressional hearing on the war in Gaza, according to the Washington Post.
Brianna Burch, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police, said the arrest was made on charges of “illegally protesting” inside the congressional offices.
Today, students from universities across the country were arrested in Congress declaring Palestinian solidarity doesn't equate to antisemitism and that free speech includes Palestinians. pic.twitter.com/I4uIW72fW2
— Olivia (@oliviadinucci) November 8, 2023
The students entered the building, wearing the Palestinian keffiyeh, clothes and masks reading “Gaza”, and phrases condemning the Israeli aggression against the besieged Gaza amid an intensive bombing campaign for more than a month that killed more than 10,000 martyrs, most of them women and children.
The protesters were about 20 people who came from various American universities, intercepted the congressional session, chanted for Palestine and Gaza, and demanded a ceasefire.
There was an unprecedented crackdown on students who condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza, according to the protestors.
During the congressional hearing, which included discussions on anti-Semitism, protesters stood up and chanted “cease fire now,” “Gaza is free,” and “stop silencing Palestinian students.”
“The inaction of our universities contributes to the dehumanization of Palestinians and creates a hostile climate on campus that effectively harms students,” the protestors said.
