Pro-palestinian demonstrators disrupt traffic in Washington, DC

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets of Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning, causing disruptions to traffic flow across the city. Hundreds of protesters gathered in the 400 block of North Capitol Street NW, where they were prevented from advancing towards the Capitol by law enforcement.

The demonstrators, chanting phrases such as "From Palestine to the Philippines! Stop the U.S. war machine! We will free Palestine!" were aiming to increase pressure on the Biden Administration, Congress, and the U.S. government, holding them directly responsible for what they described as "Israel’s genocidal violence in Gaza."

Police Intervention and Social Media

U.S. Capitol police intervened to block access to the Capitol building. The motivation behind the disruption was conveyed on social media by the organizers of the protest.

Recurring Sight in U.S. Cities

Pro-palestinian demonstrations have been a recurring sight in cities across the United States, with activists obstructing major roads, bridges, and even attempting to disrupt events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Last week in New York City, pro-palestinian protesters clashed with police and set an American flag on fire.

Protests beyond New York and Washington

The issue has not been limited to New York and Washington, as the Capitol experienced a similar protest last month, during which some participants damaged security fencing and threw objects at law enforcement officials.