NEW YORK (FluxDaily) — Nearly 100 protesters were arrested during a demonstration in New York City on Monday, demanding Senate Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to block the impending sale of thousands of bombs to Israel.
Led by the anti-war group Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), hundreds of supporters originally sought to stage a sit-in at the Manhattan offices of Schumer and Gillibrand to express their opposition to what they see as complicity in the acceleration of Israeli military actions in Lebanon and broader U.S.-Israeli conflicts in the region.
After being thwarted by security, protesters took to the streets, halting traffic outside the offices while chanting slogans such as “fund people, not bombs” as they were subsequently arrested and escorted onto three buses.
Included among the 90 individuals detained were whistleblower Chelsea Manning, actress Hari Nef, and New York City Council member Alexa Avilés, according to a spokesperson from JVP.
The demonstrators emphasized the urgency of their cause in light of the lethal air and ground operations carried out by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
This protest was primarily centered around a set of resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, aimed at halting the sale of over $600 million in bombs to Israel—a previous initiative that has encountered failures in the Senate. However, the latest attempt has gained traction, receiving backing from a significant number of Senate Democrats amid rising public discourse regarding U.S. military support for Israel.
“This is the moment when Schumer and Gillibrand must listen to their constituents,” asserted Sonya Meyerson-Knox, communications director for Jewish Voice for Peace. “The majority of Americans and New Yorkers want a resolution to what the Israeli government is doing.”
Inquiries made to Schumer and Gillibrand’s offices went unanswered at the time of publication.
