New York — Nearly 100 protesters were arrested during a demonstration Monday calling on Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to block the sale of thousands of US bombs to Israel.
Led by the anti-war group Jewish Voice for Peace, the crowd of hundreds initially attempted to stage a sit-in inside the Manhattan offices of the two Democratic lawmakers accused of inciting the war. Intensification of Israeli attacks on Lebanon and The American-Israeli war on Iran.
After security forces prevented the demonstrators from entering the building, they stopped traffic outside, chanting “people of finance, not bombs” as they arrested them and put them on three buses.
The 90 people arrested were whistleblowers Chelsea Manningand actress Hari Nef and New York City Councilwoman Alexa Aviles, according to a JVP spokesperson.
The demonstration centered around A A set of decisions Introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders that could block the sale of more than $600 million worth of bombs to Israel.
Similar measures introduced by Sanders, a Vermont independent, have failed previously. But the latest effort last summer was supported by more than half of Senate Democrats Spread of hunger and suffering in the Gaza Strip. Schumer and Gillibrand were not among them.
Protesters said Monday that Israel’s air and ground offensive in southern Lebanon, coupled with the larger US-Israeli war on Iran, increases the urgency of a vote expected later this week.
“This is the moment when Schumer and Gillibrand must listen to their constituents,” said Sonia Meyerson Knox, communications director for Jewish Voice for Peace. “The majority of Americans and New Yorkers want a solution to what the Israeli government is doing.”
Inquiries directed to Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand were not immediately responded to.