Democratic leadership responds to ceasefire demonstrations
In language similar to that of the Capitol police’s statement from earlier today, Democratic leadership has released a statement on last night’s ceasefire demonstrations – with zero mention of the words “ceasefire,” “Israel” or the 11,000 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes who demonstrators were mourning last night.
The statement, released by House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic whip Katherine Clark, Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar and DCCC chair Suzan DelBene, said:
Last night, Members of the House Democratic Caucus, hardworking staffers and dozens of guests from throughout the country were participating in an event inside the Democratic National Committee building when some protesters escalated their activity in a manner that exceeded a peaceful demonstration.
We are thankful for the service and professionalism of the U.S. Capitol Police officers who worked to ensure that Members, staff and visitors were able to safely exit. We strongly support the First Amendment right to freedom of expression and encourage anyone exercising that right to do so peacefully.
Key events
Organizers on ceasefire demonstrations: ‘A nonviolent act of civil disobedience’
The Jewish peace advocacy organization If Not Now has issued a list of FAQs following last night’s ceasefire demonstrations, saying, “Our protest was nonviolent. Capitol police brutally attacked us with no warning.”
In its series of FAQs, the organization said that there was a police liaison “who asked to speak with officers but the police refused to speak with them.”
“Instead, police arrived on the scene and immediately ran at protestors, shoving many down the stairs,” the organization said, calling the police response “brutal and reckless.”
It added that Capitol police “did not give any warnings or requests to disperse.”
Police responded to our peaceful protest with overwhelming violence — with no warning or requests to disperse.
They immediately rushed at protesters, threw us down the steps, and pepper sprayed us. They refused to speak with police liaisons.
It was brutal and reckless. pic.twitter.com/zzY0d3mJTy
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) November 16, 2023
The organization also said that approximately 90 protestors were injured last night.
Over 90 protesters were injured by violent attacks from the police.
Dragged by the hair. Pepper sprayed in the face. Thrown down the stairs. Choked and thrown into a wall. Hit by bicycles.
This was @CapitolPolice’s immediate response to a nonviolent protest. pic.twitter.com/1lyItlMDvz
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) November 16, 2023
It also called the demonstrations a “nonviolent act of civil disobedience”and said that “at no point did anyone trying to enter the building” of the Democratic National Committee.
“The purpose of the protest was to speak peacefully to members of Congress as they exited the building and share that 80% of Democrats – their base – want to see a ceasefire,” it said.
The purpose of our protest was to call on members of Congress to support a ceasefire — something that 80% of Democrats agree with.
It was a nonviolent act of civil disobedience. Police responded with extreme violence. pic.twitter.com/oy50ctDMz4
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) November 16, 2023
Here are some images coming through the newswires of ceasefire protestors on San Francisco’s Bay Bridge:
Protestors on the San Francisco Bay Bridge have thrown their car keys into the bay and chained themselves together and to the bridge in calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to US military aid to Israel, according to local media outets.
KRON4 reports:
All lanes remain blocked on the Bay Bridge after protesters shut down all lanes of westbound Interstate 80 traffic on the bridge during the Thursday morning commute. The protesters stopped their cars on the bridge, east of Treasure Island Road, and threw their keys into the Bay before chaining themselves together and to the bridge, according to California Highway Patrol.
Around 50 to 60 protesters on the bridge were arrested and processed by responding CHP officers before being led to awaiting buses, according to KRON4’s Will Tran. Approximately 250 officers are on scene, according to CHP.
As of 10 a.m., a far-right lane of westbound traffic reopened on the Bay Bridge for motorists already on the bridge. Drivers who were backed up before the toll plaza were being guided by CHP to turn around back into Oakland. There is no estimated time for when all lanes will reopen across the Bay Bridge.
Democratic leadership responds to ceasefire demonstrations
In language similar to that of the Capitol police’s statement from earlier today, Democratic leadership has released a statement on last night’s ceasefire demonstrations – with zero mention of the words “ceasefire,” “Israel” or the 11,000 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes who demonstrators were mourning last night.
The statement, released by House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic whip Katherine Clark, Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar and DCCC chair Suzan DelBene, said:
Last night, Members of the House Democratic Caucus, hardworking staffers and dozens of guests from throughout the country were participating in an event inside the Democratic National Committee building when some protesters escalated their activity in a manner that exceeded a peaceful demonstration.
We are thankful for the service and professionalism of the U.S. Capitol Police officers who worked to ensure that Members, staff and visitors were able to safely exit. We strongly support the First Amendment right to freedom of expression and encourage anyone exercising that right to do so peacefully.
San Francisco Bay Bridge shut by ceasefire protesters
Fran Lawther
Protesters shut down the Bay Bridge in San Francisco during morning rush hour. Images on the news wires show scores of people holding banners calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and protesting against military aid for Israel.
All westbound lanes were shut at the time.
The Bay Bridge is SHUT DOWN
Biden will not get away with genocide, Biden will not get away with staying in San Francisco without EVERYONE knowing he is supporting the slaughter in Gaza
No more genocide, ceasefire NOW pic.twitter.com/iQWWevwclA
— Ariel Koren (@ariel_koko) November 16, 2023
Local media reported around 50 to 60 protesters were arrested before being led to buses. There were 250 officers on the scene, reports said.
Here are more images coming through the newswires of last night’s ceasefire demonstrations outside the Democratic National Committee building:
Activists condemn Capitol police after clashes with protesters at ceasefire demonstrations
American Muslim writer and civil rights scholar Omar Suleiman has joined numerous activists in condemning Capitol police officers over their actions during last night’s ceasefire demonstrations.
In a post on X, Suleiman said:
“Unbelievable. Capitol police throwing Jewish protestors shouting not in our name and calling for a ceasefire down the steps of the Democratic National Headquarters. Good luck in 2024 y’all.”
Unbelievable. Capitol police throwing Jewish protestors shouting not in our name and calling for a ceasefire down the steps of the Democratic National Headquarters.
Good luck in 2024 y’all pic.twitter.com/LKKbGZA144
— Dr. Omar Suleiman (@omarsuleiman504) November 16, 2023
The Jewish peace advocacy organization If Not Now has pushed back against California’s Democratic representative Brad Sherman who said that yesterday’s demonstrators “grew violent” and pepper sprayed Capitol police.
The organization tweeted a video that showed protestors in locked arms singing, “Which side are you on.” At one point, the video showed Capitol police pulling and shoving protestors outside the DNC building.
Capitol police then appears to throw a protestor down the stairs. Someone behind the camera yelled, “Oh shit! Someone just got thrown. People getting thrown down the stairs!”
In its caption, If Not Now addressed Sherman’s comments, saying:
“This is dangerous & reckless disinformation, Congressman. We were peacefully linking arms, singing, and calling for a ceasefire. As you can see with your own eyes in this video. Then Capitol Police rushed in, threw us down the stairs, and pepper sprayed us. Retract this now.”
This is dangerous & reckless disinformation, Congressman.
We were peacefully linking arms, singing, and calling for a ceasefire.
As you can see with your own eyes in this video.
Then Capitol Police rushed in, threw us down the stairs, and pepper sprayed us.
Retract this now. https://t.co/FqOc8ZfCd4 pic.twitter.com/Xerx1cSDXy
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) November 16, 2023
A Capitol police officer was captured on video snatching a Palestinian flag out of the hands of a protester who was waving the flag and chanting “Ceasefire now!” during last night’s ceasefire demonstrations.
Video posted online showed the officer reaching for the flag as an onlooker shouted, “Hey hey hey! What the fuck?” Other Capitol police officers standing behind their bikes appeared to then grab the flag and throw it aside.
Wow. DC and Capitol police violently grabbing a Palestinian flag out of a demonstrator’s hand chanting “ceasefire now” and throwing the flag on the ground.
Quite the night for the police as they pepper sprayed and assaulted demonstrators, and threw an activist down the stairs. https://t.co/cv3bRw16EP
— Yasmine Taeb (@YasmineTaeb) November 16, 2023
The Capitol police said in a statement on Thursday that its officers ‘pulled people off the DNC building, pushed them back and cleared them from the area’ during last night’s ceasefire demonstrations – using language vastly different from the demonstration’s organizers who said protestors were choked, thrown against walls and pepper sprayed.
In its statement, the Capitol police made no mention of pepper-spraying protestors, despite images posted online that appeared to show them doing so.
Instead, the statement said:
“When the group moved dumpsters in front of the exits, pepper sprayed our officers and attempted to pick up the bike rack, our teams quickly introduced consequences – pulling people off the building, pushing them back, and clearing them from the area, so we could safely evacuate the Members and staff.
Six officers were treated for injuries, from minor cuts to being pepper sprayed to being punched.”
In a video posted to Youtube, a Capitol police officer can be seen pepper-spraying a protestor in the face as she held onto another protestor.
