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(The Guardian) Capitol police clash with protesters outside DNC headquarters
Capitol police clashed with dozens of demonstators outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC on Wednesday evening during a demonstration for a ceasefire in Gaza where Israeli forces have killed over 11,000 Palestinians in the last five weeks.
Demonstrators linked arms in front of the DNC building where several Democratic representatives including House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries were inside for a campaign reception. “Which side are you on?” yelled some demonstrators while others wore black shirts with the words “Cease Fire Now.” Protestors said they wanted to block the building’s entrances and exits to force politicians to encounter their candlelight vigil, the Associated Press reports.
However, clashes quickly erupted as police used pepper spray and fired chemical irritants into the crowd. One protestor told the Associated Press that police started “pulling on folks that are disabled or have chronic illnesses, pulling people to the ground.”
Meanwhile, capitol police said that approximately 150 people were “illegally and violently protesting” and that one person was arrested “for assault on an officer.”
The demonstration comes as Joe Biden maintained his refusal to call for a ceasefire. Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping on Wednesday night, Biden said, “Hamas has already said publicly that they plan on attacking Israel again…so the idea that they’re going to just stop and not do anything is not realistic.” Biden’s comments come as the UN security council backed a resolution on Wednesday night calling for “urgent extended humanitarian pauses” in Gaza.
Organizers: 'Over 90 non-violent protesters injured by police'
Organizers of last night’s ceasefire demonstrations has released a statement on the “violent police response”, saying that over 90 no-nviolent protesters were injured by Capitol police.
In a joint statement released by If Not Now, Jewish Voice for Peace Action and Democratic Socialists of America, the groups said:
On Wednesday evening, a coalition of Jewish and allied protesters non-violently blocked one entrance to the DNC headquarters. Police violently attacked them, causing over 90 injuries, including being pepper sprayed, minor cuts and dragged by the hair …
Protesters were choked and violently handled by multiple office[r]s at once, thrown against the wall, then grabbed and picked up and thrown down the front stairs. At least two protestors’ glasses were smashed by the police. Dozen of people were kicked, kneed and punched in the face by police officers. People were shoved down the stairs and tackled to the pavement by cops running at full speed.”
Capitol police clashed with dozens of demonstators outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington DC on Wednesday evening during a demonstration for a ceasefire in Gaza where Israeli forces have killed over 11,000 Palestinians in the last five weeks.
Demonstrators linked arms in front of the DNC building where several Democratic representatives including House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries were inside for a campaign reception. “Which side are you on?” yelled some demonstrators while others wore black shirts with the words “Cease Fire Now.” Protestors said they wanted to block the building’s entrances and exits to force politicians to encounter their candlelight vigil, the Associated Press reports.
However, clashes quickly erupted as police used pepper spray and fired chemical irritants into the crowd. One protestor told the Associated Press that police started “pulling on folks that are disabled or have chronic illnesses, pulling people to the ground.”
Meanwhile, capitol police said that approximately 150 people were “illegally and violently protesting” and that one person was arrested “for assault on an officer.”
The demonstration comes as Joe Biden maintained his refusal to call for a ceasefire. Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping on Wednesday night, Biden said, “Hamas has already said publicly that they plan on attacking Israel again…so the idea that they’re going to just stop and not do anything is not realistic.” Biden’s comments come as the UN security council backed a resolution on Wednesday night calling for “urgent extended humanitarian pauses” in Gaza.
Organizers: 'Over 90 non-violent protesters injured by police'
Organizers of last night’s ceasefire demonstrations has released a statement on the “violent police response”, saying that over 90 no-nviolent protesters were injured by Capitol police.
In a joint statement released by If Not Now, Jewish Voice for Peace Action and Democratic Socialists of America, the groups said:
On Wednesday evening, a coalition of Jewish and allied protesters non-violently blocked one entrance to the DNC headquarters. Police violently attacked them, causing over 90 injuries, including being pepper sprayed, minor cuts and dragged by the hair …
Protesters were choked and violently handled by multiple office[r]s at once, thrown against the wall, then grabbed and picked up and thrown down the front stairs. At least two protestors’ glasses were smashed by the police. Dozen of people were kicked, kneed and punched in the face by police officers. People were shoved down the stairs and tackled to the pavement by cops running at full speed.”