More than 300 protesters were arrested Wednesday in the Cannon Congressional Office Building on Capitol Hill demanding an Israeli ceasefire against Gaza. Three were reportedly charged with assaulting police.
“We mourn the dead, and fight like hell for the living!” chanted the activists as police arrested them one by one. The protest was organized by Jewish-led groups Jews for Peace and IfNotNow.
Congressman Brandon Williams, the only apparent counter-protester, waved an Israeli flag overhead.
Some activists linked arms or went limp to add difficulty to their arrests. Most, however, complied and were put into plastic zip ties before being removed.
One of the most intense moments of the protest came toward the beginning of the demonstration when officers tried to pull away protesters holding banners over the second floor ledge, and a man began to climb over to pull away from them. Several activists on the second floor physically struggled with police as they were detained.
As the demonstration was slowly chipped away at by arrest, arrestees were visible outside the building awaiting being loaded into USCP busses.
Ahead of the demonstration inside the Cannon Capitol office building Wednesday afternoon, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib spoke out at the rally outside calling for an Israeli ceasefire.
She spoke of how humanitarian aid to Palestinians is not enough, because it won’t bring back lives lost, or prevent more from being taken.
Toward the end of the speech, she cried as she described the pain of seeing videos where Palestinian children are told not to cry in the face of atrocity, when they should be allowed to cry.
Representative Cori Bush spoke after Rep Tlaib, before the demonstration at Cannon demanding Israeli ceasefire.
“We must be willing to speak out against war and violence, and our government’s complicity in it,” she said. “Are you for war or against war? Are you for saving lives or against saving lives. The time to decide is now. Ceasefire now!”
