A large group of protestors entered the Cannon House office building Wednesday demanding an Israeli cease-fire, resulting in several arrests, Capitol police said.
“Demonstrations are not allowed inside Congressional Buildings,” the U.S. Capitol Police posted on X. “We warned the protestors to stop demonstrating and when they did not comply we began arresting them.”
The protest, organized jointly by the Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and IfNotNow, began at noon in front of the Capitol. Demonstrators urged Congress take action toward a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
The Biden administration has largely defended Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza, after Hamas militants carried out a massacre of Israeli civilians earlier this month. But progressives in Congress have increased pressure on President Biden to urge restraint from Israel as the death toll in the Gaza Strip mounts.
“The root of violence is oppression, and we’re here to say no in our names,” Jewish Voice for Peace posted on X. “We have the power to stop the ongoing atrocities against Palestinians. We refuse to standby as the Israeli government commits genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.”
Protestors inside the Cannon Rotunda chanted “cease-fire now,” holding banners with the same message.
Capitol Police did not confirm the number of arrests made, but posted on X that road closures and arrests are ongoing. Among the arrests made inside the building, “three people have been arrested and charged with Assault on a Police Officer during processing.”
Outside of the Capitol, a large crowd gathered to “support those getting arrested on the inside.” The total number of protestors has not been determined but JVP posted on X that there are 10,000 protestors outside the Capitol building and 500 more “are inside to demand an end to the Israeli and U.S. government’s genocide in Gaza.”
Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who have been calling on Biden to work toward an immediate cease-fire, spoke to the crowd of demonstrators before they entered the Capitol building.
“I wish all the Palestinian people would see this. I wish they could see that not all of America want them to die. That they are not disposable, that they have a right to live,” said Tlaib, the only current Palestinian-American member of Congress.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) posted online in support of the protestors. “Solidarity with those mobilizing and demanding a #CeasefireNOW to save lives,” she said on X.
The House Sergeant at Arms issued an alert to members that entry points into the House office buildings were restricted to lawmakers and staff only “due to First Amendment activities on Capitol Grounds.”
Updated at 4:36 pm.
