THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS RALLY AGAINST ISRAEL OUTSIDE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, 7 Shawwal 1435/3 August 2014 (MINA) – Thousands of people rally in front of the White House to protest against the United States’ unwavering support for Israel as the regime presses on with its bloody military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The demonstration drew more than 30,000 protesters from across the country to the streets around the White House and downtown Washington, making it the largest anti-Israel rally since the Zionist regime began its onslaught against Gaza on July 8, according to the website of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, one of the chief organizers of the event.
“It’s an exceptionally large number of protesters,” Araz Alali, a DC police spokesman, was quoted by the Washington Post as saying, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Sunday.
“Free, free Palestine, killing children is a crime,” the crowd chanted, holding Palestinian flags, and signs which read, “Occupation is a crime — Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine”, “Stop Israeli terrorism” and “No justice, no peace.’’
The demonstration was organized online by a diverse coalition of more than 40 anti-war and peace activist groups including the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation and the National Council of Arab Americans.
“Gaza will not die — it will never die,” said one of the protesters, Amar Jamal, as he marched through downtown Washington, according to AFP.
“It is the time to make peace because this bloodbath will not stop in Gaza. All the Middle East will be in trouble” if the bloodshed does not end, warned the Palestinian-born 70-year-old.
Mounia Bounkenafet, a 38-year-old mother from Virginia said that her children would cry in front of the TV when they watch the news on Gaza.
“I don’t even want them to watch, but they’re curious, and when they ask I tell them the truth: ‘This is a big crime,’ ” she was quoted as saying by the Washington Post.
Bounkenafet said the US should stop funding Israel, as one of her daughters pumped a fist in the air and shouted along with other protesters.
Many of the protesters voiced anger at Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, after he vowed to escalate the offensive against the besieged coastal enclave.
One protester waved a banner that read, “Netanyahu and Hitler are the same, the only difference is the name.”
On Friday, thousands of peace activists held a demonstration in New York City to protest against Israel’s crimes in Gaza and the biased coverage they receive in the US media, Press TV reports.
Despite the rain, more than 7,000 people gathered near Columbus Circle on the upper west side of Manhattan to show solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine.
The protest, which was organized by the International Action Center, began in front of the headquarters of CNN and proceeded toward FOX News headquarters.
More than 1,700 Palestinians have been killed, including women and children, and thousands others injured by Israel’s aerial and ground attacks in Gaza. (T/E01/IR)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)