Protesters demanded sanctions against Israel
About 2,000 people from more than 100 organizations gathered Saturday in downtown Washington for the National March for Palestine, organizers of the mass demonstration held at the Lincoln Memorial told TASS.
“There are about 2,000 of us from over 100 American organizations. All of us are in favour of sanctions against Israel because of the fighting against Palestine. We stand for freedom for Palestine. If it wasn’t for the overcast weather, I think more protesters would have come”, – said a spokesman for the American Muslims for Palestine organization that held the rally. Earlier it had circulated an electronic petition signed by some 8,000 users demanding US President Joe Biden to announce sanctions against Israel.
The protesters demanded an arms embargo against the Jewish state, an end to the US-Israeli free-trade agreement as well as an end to the settlement activity carried out by the Israeli authorities. Speakers on a makeshift stage near the memorial said that the American Congress must stop legally supplying arms to the Jewish state. In addition, they demanded that Israeli authorities be held accountable for their policies against the Palestinian people.
Organisers of the rally also said that representatives of organisations such as Jewish Voice for Peace and Jews for the Right of Return of Palestinians were also taking part.