Jewish demonstrators and allies blocked an overpass in Washington, D.C., during rush hour traffic to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.
Jewish Voices For Peace organized the demonstration, blocking the busy overpass to New York Avenue. The Jewish-led pro-Palestinian group said more than 400 Jewish people and allies are joining demonstrations occurring on the eighth night of Hanukkah across eight cities, blocking eight bridges.
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BREAKING: DC joins nation-wide protests to shut down 8 bridges on the 8th night of Hanukkah.
Over 90 Jews and allies in the struggle for Palestinian liberation are blockading the overpass to New York Ave with @JVPDCMetro to say: ceasefire now! Free Palestine! pic.twitter.com/2VFM79GyOP
— Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive) December 14, 2023
“No matter how bleak, the Hanukkah light never was extinguished — and so even in the darkest time, when the Israeli government is massacring hundreds of Palestinians every day with U.S. funding and arms — neither will our commitment to act,” Jewish Voices For Peace said on X, formerly known as Twitter, attaching a video displaying the protest.
Demonstrators held banners that read “Never again for anyone” and “Stop the Gaza genocide” while chanting “Free Palestine.”
HAPPENING NOW: Jews and allies in the struggle for Palestinian freedom shut down Philly traffic. Jewish people are rising up to say: CEASEFIRE NOW, Palestinians should be free. Philly is joining JVP protests across the country: On the 8th night of Hanukkah, 8 cities, 8 bridges. pic.twitter.com/cCfMWIIHjE
— JVP Philly (@JVPPhilly) December 14, 2023
The first Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived at the scene of the protest 10 minutes after demonstrators shut down the road, according to NBC News. The MPD could not confirm the number of officers on site at the time of publication to the Washington Examiner.
In Philadelphia, Jewish Voices For Peace demonstrators began gathering on the Spring Garden Street Bridge this afternoon, blocking the Schuylkill Expressway in Center City.
The group called on President Joe Biden and local Pennsylvania representatives, including Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA), to sign a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Since Hamas terrorists launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, hundreds of protests and rallies across the nation have occurred, with people demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
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More than 18,400 people have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory. About 1,200 people were killed and some 240 hostages were taken on Oct. 7, according to the Israeli government. After a seven-day temporary ceasefire ended, Israel’s military resumed fighting in Gaza on Dec. 1. The temporary truce resulted in 105 hostages released by Hamas and 240 Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons.
The United Nations on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported a draft resolution in the U.N. General Assembly that demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The United States and Israel joined eight other countries in opposing the resolution, while 153 were in favor out of the 193-member world body.
