At least 300 people were arrested by the demonstrations at the United States Capitol during the last day to protest against the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip and demand an immediate ceasefire.
The demonstration, called by left-wing Jewish organizations, led hundreds of people to break into the Cannon House Office Building, a federal government office located next to the Capitol and the oldest office building of the US Congress.
A spokesperson for the Capitol Police indicated that the majority have been arrested since protests are prohibited in the aforementioned building and asserted that the number is expected to continue increasing. Thus, he specified that for the moment at least three of the detainees have been charged with attacking police officers, according to information from the ABC television network.
The protesters, opposed to the open war between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) since last October 7, demanded that US President Joe Biden exert pressure to achieve a truce between the parties.
Sources close to the matter stated that the protests have been organized by the Jewish Voice for Peace and If It’s Not Now organizations, opposed to the State of Israel. The situation led the Police to close the surrounding streets due to the presence of protesters on the road.
Many of them wear black t-shirts that read “Jews call for a ceasefire now” and “It’s not our name.” Others have carried banners with slogans such as “Cease Fire.”
The protest took place after another similar demonstration earlier this week outside the White House, which also resulted in dozens of arrests. Protesters, like the rest of the population, can legally enter the Capitol complex.
Some congressmen, who were in their offices at Cannon House, rebuked the protesters. “The irony is that the US Constitution protects the freedom to be an absolute idiot,” Republican Ryan Zinke said on his X account, formerly known as Twitter.
