Gaza ceasefire protesters gather for Biden's State of the Union address
Reuters
Published Mar 07, 2024 08:15PM ET
Updated Mar 08, 2024 12:05AM ET
By Nandita Bose and Kanishka Singh
(Reuters) - President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Thursday sparked pockets of protest across the United States, with activists asking him to push for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and do more to curb Israel's attacks in Gaza.
Protesters blocked traffic in Boston and Los Angeles. Over 50 arrests were made in Boston, according to one activist group and a local media report.
Ahead of Biden's speech, dozens gathered near the White House, prompting the police to block off a nearby road.
"We are here today because enough is enough," said Ahmad Abuznaid, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations advocacy group said the speech was Biden's "best and perhaps last chance" to announce steps to reduce Palestinian suffering in Gaza and win back support of Arab, Palestinian and anti-war Americans disappointed with his policy.
Senior U.S. administration officials said beforehand that Biden would discuss U.S. plans to build a port in Gaza to ship in humanitarian aid.
Hours before the speech, the U.S. Capitol was ringed with a high wire fence as is typical ahead of the annual presidential speech to both houses of Congress.
A Palestinian flag hung from the balcony of a congressional office building, and small groups of protesters chanted "Ceasefire now" on street corners, some wearing keffiyehs, the traditional Palestinian scarf.
Biden swept the Democratic nominating contests this week on Super Tuesday, however Minnesota and six other states lodged protest votes against his staunch support for Israel. Michigan Democrats staged a similar protest last week.
Some Democrats in Congress were expected to wear pins with the word "ceasefire" to the State of the Union address. Centrist Democrats have urged the president to do more to address the suffering in Gaza.
Representative Cori Bush, a Democrat of Missouri will bring Palestinian dentist Intimaa Salama, a graduate student from St. Louis University, as her guest.
In recent weeks, protests demanding a ceasefire have occurred across the U.S., including at Biden speeches and campaign stops and events attended by other U.S. politicians.
Get The News You Want
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.