Here in New York, nearly 100 antiwar protesters led by Jewish Voice for Peace were arrested Monday outside the offices of Senate Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand while attempting to stage a sit-in. Demonstrators demanded the senators use their power to block a pending U.S. sale of thousands of bombs to Israel. Police moved in as activists filled the sidewalks with signs and chants. This is Sonya Meyerson-Knox of Jewish Voice for Peace.
Sonya Meyerson-Knox: “Our senators need to listen to their constituents. Right now the U.S. is continuing to send endless amounts of money and weapons to Israel. As it does that, it is bombing Beirut, it is occupying south Lebanon, it bombs synagogues and universities in Iran, and it is continuing the genocide in Gaza. It is doing this with our weapons that we are sending and our money that we are selling to Israel to buy these weapons. So, our senators need to listen to their constituents. Three hundred New Yorkers are here to say, ‘Stop arming Israel.’”
Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders said Monday he will force a vote this week on legislation to block the sale of nearly half a billion dollars’ worth of bombs and bulldozers to the Israeli military. Meanwhile, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats will compel a vote on an Iran war powers resolution, now that the House is back in session.