2023 Democratic National Convention protests | |||
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Part of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States | |||
Date | 15 November 2023 (6:40 pm to 10 pm) | ||
Location | (N 38° 53' 2.6484", W 77° 0' 30.942") | ||
Caused by | 2023 Israel–Hamas war | ||
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Resulted in | |||
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The 2023 Democratic National Committee protests were a pro-Palestine protest turned violent. [9] The protest organizers, the Jewish Voice for Peace and the IfNotNow movement as well as other Pro-Palestinian protesters arrived outside the DNC building on 430 South Capitol St. SE at 6:40 pm after a candlelight vigil at 3rd Street and Maryland Avenue SW. [6] The protest forced Capitol Police to shut down several roads in the area as officers tried to deal with the protesters. [10]
The protests also showed a clear divide within the Democratic Party over the Israel-Hamas war and a clear divide within U.S. President Joe Biden's voter base. [11] [12] [13]
The protests started on 15 November 2023 at around 6:40pm, the protesters went to the DNC building on 430 South Capitol St. SE and blocked the entrances to the DNC while Democratic representatives and candidates, including House Minority Leader Suzan DelBene, the chairwoman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Michigan Representative Debbie Dingell were inside the building for a campaign reception. [14] [15] About 10 members were inside the headquarters at the time of the protest, and were meeting with House candidates who were in town for training and connections. [14] The protesters were chanting Pro-Palestinian slogans and wore black shirts that read "Cease Fire Now". The protestors called for a ceasefire in Gaza, an end to American military support to Israel, and the establishment of a "Free Palestinian State".
As the protest continued, Capitol Police arrived on scene and shut down multiple roads in order to try and contain the situation. At 8:38 pm ET they said that: "Right now our officers are working to keep back approximately 150 people who are illegally and violently protesting in the area of Canal Street and Ivy Street, SE. Officers are making arrests. [16] All Members have been evacuated from the area. Please stay away from the area". Videos on social media showed protesters trying to grab hold of metal barricades as the officers moved in to make arrests. [1]
IfNotNow posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that "police are being extremely violent." They also posted: "We are linking arms, threatening no one, and begging our politicians to support an end to the killing and the suffering in Gaza. Begging, peacefully, for a ceasefire". Capitol Police used pepper spray in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Fist fights were also seen on videos posted to social media. [17] According to Capitol Police, an officer reportedly witnessed a protester "slam another officer into a garage door and then punched the female officer in the face." [7] Inside the Democratic headquarters, police rushed into the reception and directed lawmakers to the basement, according to California democratic representative Brad Sherman, some people were later evacuated in police vehicles. [18] By 10 pm, the Capitol Police said that all house buildings had returned to normal operations. [2]
On 16 November 2023 IfNotNow claimed on their X account that 90 protesters were injured and posted a video from the protests. [5] The Washington Post reported that at least 100 protesters had suffered injuries after being pepper-sprayed and pushed by police. [6] At least 1 protester was arrested and other 1 protester, a 24 year old from New York was charged with assault on an officer. [7] Officers later indicated that they were not more arrests as they were working to hold the police line. [19] Politico compared the protests to the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests. [20]
Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) posted on social media that he had been evacuated from the DNC "after pro-terrorist, anti-#Israel protesters" became violent and assaulted police officers. [21] IfNotNow claimed that their actions were peaceful and the Capitol Police were the ones who were violent. Spokesperson Eva Borgwardt sited Shermans account in a statement, calling it inaccurate and that his comments were "dangerous and reckless". [21] [22] Democratic leadership released a statement said that "Protesters escalated their activity in a manner that exceeded a peaceful demonstration". [23] The political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Beth Miller stated that "hundreds of peaceful anti-war activists" had been met with "brutal assaults by the police" while calling on Democrats to decide what side of the conflict they stand on. [14] American Muslim writer and civil rights scholar Omar Suleiman said on his X account: "Unbelievable. Capitol police throwing protestors shouting not in our name and calling for a ceasefire down the steps of the Democratic National Headquarters. Good luck in 2024 y’all". [24]
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden called into a DNC and campaign staff meeting on November 16 and expressed appreciation for law enforcement, and thanked staffers and offered holiday wishes for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. [14]
In November 2012, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched Operation Pillar of Defense, which was an eight-day campaign in the Hamas-governed Gaza Strip, beginning on 14 November 2012 with the killing of Ahmed Jabari, chief of the Gaza military wing of Hamas, by an Israeli airstrike.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is a multi-tendency, democratic socialist political organization in the United States. After the Socialist Party of America (SPA) transformed into Social Democrats USA, Michael Harrington formed the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee (DSOC). The DSOC later merged with the New American Movement to form the DSA. The organization is headquartered in New York City and has about 80,000 members. It leads organizing and protest campaigns, and has members in the House of Representatives, state legislatures, and other local offices.
Reactions to the 2014 Gaza War came from around the world.
IfNotNow is an American Jewish group which opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Its membership demonstrates against politicians, United States policies, and institutions it perceives as supporting occupation, usually seeking to apply pressure through direct action and media appearances. It has been characterized variously as progressive or far-left.
Gaza-Israel clashes began on 11 November 2018, when a botched Israeli covert operation carried out in the Khan Yunis area of the southern Gaza Strip killed seven Palestinian militants and one Israeli soldier. Exchanges of fire lasted for two more days, until a cease fire was achieved with Egyptian mediation. Some minor incidents and protests followed some two weeks after the cease fire, with decreasing intensity.
Following the eruption of the Israel–Hamas war, the United States began to send warships and military aircraft into the Eastern Mediterranean and supplying Israel with ammunition and military equipment.
A major outbreak of violence in the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict commenced on 10 May 2021, though disturbances took place earlier, and continued until a ceasefire came into effect on 21 May. It was marked by protests and police riot control, rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The crisis was triggered on 6 May, when Palestinians in East Jerusalem began protesting over an anticipated decision of the Supreme Court of Israel on the eviction of six Palestinian families in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Under international law, the area, effectively annexed by Israel in 1980, is a part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank; On 7 May, according to Israel's Channel 12, Palestinians threw stones at Israeli police forces, who then stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound using tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades. The crisis prompted protests around the world as well as official reactions from world leaders.
The following is a timeline of events during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in 2021, including the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.
There have been a series of international protests over a May 2021 flare-up of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. A ceasefire of the hostilities was agreed upon on 20 May.
Events of the year 2023 in Israel.
Events in 2023 in the Palestinian territories.
On 7 October 2023, a large escalation of the Gaza–Israel conflict began with a coordinated offensive by multiple Palestinian militant groups against Israel. A number of countries, including many of Israel's Western allies, such as the United States and a number of European countries, condemned the attacks by Hamas, expressed solidarity for Israel and stated that Israel has a right to defend itself from armed attacks, while countries of the Muslim world have expressed support for the Palestinians, blaming the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories as being the root cause for the escalation of violence. The events prompted several world leaders to announce their intention to visit Israel, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The Israel–Hamas war has sparked protests, demonstrations, and vigils around the world. These events focused on a variety of issues related to the conflict, including demands for a ceasefire, an end to the Israeli blockade and occupation, return of Israeli hostages, protesting war crimes, and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Protests against Israeli action in Gaza were notably large across the Arab world. Since the war began on 7 October, the number of dead has exceeded 20,000.
The outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war led to an increased dislike of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the government from Israeli citizens due to a perceived failure of leadership on the issue, with increased calls for Netanyahu's resignation.
The National March on Washington: Free Palestine was a demonstration held on November 4, 2023, at the National Mall, in Washington, D.C. The event was held in conjunction with similar protests across the United States and internationally.
Protests, including rallies, demonstrations, campaigns, and vigils, relating to the Israel–Hamas war have occurred nationwide across the United States since the conflict's start on 7 October 2023, occurring as part of a broader phenomenon of the Israel–Hamas war protests around the world.
As a result of the Israel–Hamas war, nationwide protests occurred across the UK. These demonstrations occurred as part of a broader movement of war-related protests occurring around the world.
H. Res. 786, also known as the Ceasefire Now Resolution, is a proposed resolution in the United States House of Representatives. The resolution was introduced by Cori Bush (D-MO) in the 118th congress in October 2023.
As a result of the Israel–Hamas war, nationwide protests have occurred across Israel, including rallies, demonstrations, campaigns, and vigils. These demonstrations occurred as part of broader war-related protests occurring worldwide. Israelis domestically and abroad have primarily called for the return of hostages held by Hamas.
Israel has been accused of committing genocide in the Gaza war and the Biden administration has been accused of complicity in the genocide. The complicity accusation has been made in court, as well as by federal staffers. As well as Human rights organizations and academic figures around the world.