On Wednesday, hundreds of pro-Palestine protestors were reportedly arrested during a demonstration held inside the Cannon House Office Building, an annex to the U.S. Capitol.
The protest led to disruptions in the building as demonstrators flooded the entry rotunda, chanting slogans, and displaying signs.
Outside the building, a massive crowd of thousands of protestors forced Capitol Police to implement multiple road closures in the vicinity.
The protest was predominantly attended by members of progressive Jewish groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow. The demonstrators aimed to call on members of Congress to demand an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict involving Israeli military actions and Hamas-initiated attacks.
Sonya Meyerson-Knox, a representative for Jewish Voice for Peace, stated that approximately 500 American Jews, including two dozen rabbis, participated in the protest, and nearly all of them were arrested.
The recent surge in pro-Palestine protests in the United States and abroad has coincided with the heightened tensions in the Gaza Strip.The protest in the Cannon House Office Building was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow.
According to The Guardian, Eva Borgwardt, political director of IfNotNow, called for an urgent meeting with President Biden to demand a cease-fire and de-escalation.
Protestors, many of whom wore traditional Jewish prayer shawls, were situated inside the rotunda for several hours. During the event, organizers from Jewish Voice for Peace provided updates on the protest, emphasizing their commitment to advocating for a cease-fire and addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict's underlying causes.
The protest had a significant impact on the conversation in Congress, with new co-sponsors supporting a "Cease-fire Now" resolution introduced by Rep. Cori Bush, D-Missouri.
Demonstrations within congressional office buildings are illegal, leading to the arrest of the majority of protestors inside the Cannon House Office Building. Capitol Police issued warnings to protestors to cease their activities and subsequently began making arrests. Three protestors were also arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, condemned the demonstration as an "insurrection" and requested that Capitol Police preserve evidence for potential legal action. In contrast, Rep. Cori Bush, who spoke at the protest outside the Capitol, voiced her solidarity with the protesters' call for a cease-fire.
Another pro-Palestine protest, organized by the group Movement 4 Black Lives in collaboration with other progressive groups, is scheduled to take place on the National Mall at noon on Friday.
Capitol Police have not yet provided a response to inquiries regarding the protestors' access to the House office building.