Protests outside of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s offices in midtown Manhattan resulted in dozens of arrests Monday, April 13. The rally, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, which has local chapters in Westchester and the greater Hudson Valley, was set up first as an anti-war sit-in.
The goal of the protest, according to the organization’s Instagram account, was to demand that the Democratic politicians stop the sale of bombs to Israel.
But chaos broke out at the scene as police detained nearly 100 people, the Associated Press reported.
Here is what we know about Monday’s protest.
Protesters surrounded Schumer’s, Gillibrand’s midtown offices
Hundreds surrounded the office shared by both senators on Third Avenue, many wearing shirts reading: “Fund people, not bombs.” Some held signs calling out the politicians, while calling for an end to the Iran War, too.
“On the brink of a Senate vote to block weapons to Israel, 300 New Yorkers are risking arrest in a mass anti-war sit-in to demand that Senators Schumer and Gillibrand fund people, not bombs,” a post by the organization read.
“Schumer and Gillibrand, listen to your constituents. New Yorkers say: End this horrific war and stop arming Israel now.”
Demonstrators were not allowed to enter the building, and after stopping traffic, were arrested.
Chelsea Manning, actor Hari Nef and Alexa Avilés, a NYC council member, were all detained during the demonstration, the Associated Press reported.
What is Jewish Voice for Peace?
According to the Jewish Voice for Peace website, the organization represents left-leaning Jewish people who are “anti-Zionist.”
“Jewish Voice for Peace is the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world,” the organization’s website reads. “We’re organizing a grassroots, multiracial, cross-class, intergenerational movement of U.S. Jews into solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle, guided by a vision of justice, equality, and dignity for all people.”
The group has chapters throughout New York, including New York City, Westchester and the Greater Hudson Valley.
Schumer calls for ‘Trump’s reckless war against Iran’ to end
Schumer’s office told USA TODAY Tuesday: “Senator Schumer thinks Trump’s reckless war against Iran is a disaster that needs to end immediately.”
“The Senator has led the charge to make the Senate vote three times — and another this week — on a War Powers Resolution to stop Trump’s reckless war, which the Republicans have blocked each time.”
Gillibrand’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.
Thousands across the country have protested against U.S. arms sales to Israel in the past. New demonstrations have sparked in response to President Donald Trump’s military action in Iran, too.
In the Lower Hudson Valley, No Kings protests held in late March called for an end to U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran war, among other issues.
Contributing: lohud staff.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: What we know about April 13 Jewish Voice for Peace rally in NYC
Reporting by Amethyst Martinez, USA TODAY / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
