A large crowd gathers in Washington, D.C. for the March for Israel event.
2014 Gaza conflict
A significant number of people gathered in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday for the March for Israel event. They congregated on the National Mall to demonstrate their solidarity with Israel, call for the release of hostages, and denounce the growing issue of antisemitism in the United States following the 2014 Gaza conflict.Israel-Hamas war began last month.
Renee Levy from Cincinnati, Ohio, explained to CBS News that it was crucial for her to join her son and their friends in D.C.
Recently, being a Jewish person in the United States has been exceptionally difficult, especially for college students. In addition to grieving for those who have passed and worrying about hostages, they are facing discrimination and hostility simply for being Jewish. That’s why it was incredibly meaningful for Levy and others to come together in solidarity with Israel and each other at this event.
The official website for the March event stated that it was a chance for all Americans to unite in support of Israel and show our dedication to our most significant ally in the Middle East. It also aimed to denounce the increasing occurrences of antisemitic attacks and harassment and call for the immediate and safe release of all hostages.
After the
On October 7th, there was an attack by Hamas.
The Anti-Defamation League documented 312 instances of anti-Semitic behavior in the United States until October 23rd, with 190 of them being directly related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In that particular time frame, there was a significant rise of 338% in incidents of harassment, vandalism, and/or assault, when compared to the same period in 2022.
As per the Anti-Defamation League.
ongoing
The White House reports that Hamas, a designated terrorist group by the U.S. State Department, has taken around 240 individuals from Israel as hostages, including Americans and a 3-year-old child. Currently, only four hostages have been freed and negotiations, facilitated by Qatar, are still in progress.
Currently working towards facilitating the release of additional items.
The coordinators of the D.C. rally urged participants to share their experiences of the event on social media by utilizing the hashtag #MarchForIsrael. Additionally, for those unable to physically attend, a livestream was available.
San Francisco
Attendees from various cities in the United States, such as Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, came together to participate in the march.Baltimore
Some people traveled by bus to reach Washington D.C., while others flew long distances to attend.
Laura Cherner, representing the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, emphasized the critical need for unity within our community and as a nation in response to the growing dehumanization of Israel and the surge in antisemitism. CBS News Pittsburgh
Having the whole country support us and come together will be a significant and momentous occasion.
According to CBS Philadelphia, over 4,000 individuals from the Philadelphia region traveled to Washington D.C. for the protest.
Jacquie Brager, who came with a group from Maryland, told CBS Baltimore
“The recent surge of hate has been disheartening, and it’s important for us to demonstrate our support for Israel.”
“I am the child of survivors of the Holocaust. It has been a tumultuous and emotional period for me,” stated Thomas Tibor, another participant, during an interview with the station. “My ultimate desire is for peace.”
Christina Ruffini, correspondent for CBS News covering foreign affairs and the State Department, reported from the march and mentioned the presence of Hasidic men with signs expressing opposition to Zionism and the State of Israel.
March for Israel safety and security
The march was classified as a SEAR Level One occurrence, indicating an increased presence of federal law enforcement working in conjunction with local law enforcement, as confirmed by CBS News. The D.C. police and U.S. Park Police were present at the event.
The Department of Homeland Security defines Level One SEAR events as important occurrences that have a national or international impact and demand significant federal interagency assistance. They use a risk-based approach to decide which events necessitate extra resources.
Law enforcement officials have informed CBS News that there are no known threats to the D.C. march.
The Department of Homeland Security is collaborating with various groups throughout the country to exchange important updates and support for the protection of their neighborhoods, according to a spokesperson from Homeland Security who made a statement to CBS News. The United States is still at a heightened risk and recent occurrences serve as a reminder of this. As the conflict between Israel and Hamas persists, there has been a rise in reports of potential dangers targeting Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities and establishments. The greatest threat is posed by solitary attackers who are driven by a range of violent beliefs. We urge the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious behavior to their local law enforcement.
At a televised briefing held in the Pentagon on Tuesday, Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh announced that the Department of Defense had given the green light for 30 members of the D.C. National Guard to assist the city’s police department with traffic and crowd control. Additionally, six members of the Civil Support Team will also be providing support at the event.
Some other demonstrations showing support for both Israel and Palestine
The war has sparked pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protests
Last month, during the beginning of the war, there were competing protests held by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups in major cities worldwide. These protests took place in New York City, with demonstrations occurring outside of the United Nations, in Times Square, and at other notable locations.
According to CBS New York, it was reported.
A demonstration in Washington D.C. advocating for Palestine attracted participants from various American cities on November 3rd. The protesters urged President Biden to cease all forms of assistance to Israel, as reported by CBS affiliate WUSA.
On Sunday,
There are over 180,000 individuals in France.
Over 100,000 people, including a significant number in Paris, participated in peaceful demonstrations to show their opposition to antisemitism.
Caitlin O’Kane
Source: cbsnews.com