New York: Jewish activists occupy the Statue of Liberty to demand a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip

“Cease fire immediately!” – the protesters chanted. Several hundred progressive American Jewish activists peacefully occupied the Statue of Liberty in New York on Monday, demanding a ceasefire from Israel and an end to the “genocidal bombing of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.” Dressed in black T-shirts with slogans like “Jews demand a ceasefire now” or “not in our name,” several hundred young people unfurled signs at the foot of the street that read “The whole world is watching” and “Palestinians must be free.” foundation of a symbolic monument-symbol of New York.

“The famous words of our Jewish ancestor (19th-century American poet) Emma Lazarus, engraved on this monument, compel us to act in support of the Palestinians of Gaza who strive to live freely,” Jay Saper of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). A press release from the group Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) demands “an end to Israel’s genocidal bombing of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.”

“While Gazans are screaming, we must scream louder, no matter what attempts are made to silence us,” exclaimed American photographer Nancy Goldin, also in the presence of local elected officials from New York, including some of whom are very much aligned with the left. .

Giant sit-in in Manhattan

The American metropolis, the mythical global city of immigration and multiculturalism, has been rocked by demonstrations in support of Israel and pro-Palestinians for a month now. New York, home to an estimated two million Jews and hundreds of thousands of Muslims, has so far avoided violence, but tensions are palpable, especially on college campuses such as Columbia.

In addition, some very progressive American Jewish youth – Jews who overwhelmingly vote for the Democratic Party – are rebelling against Israel, which they accuse of committing “genocide” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. They also condemn President Joe Biden’s military and diplomatic support for the Jewish state. Organizations such as the JVP gathered tens of thousands of demonstrators in the federal capital of Washington on Saturday to demand an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and criticize American policies supporting Israel.

Manhattan’s massive Grand Central Station was also occupied by a giant sit-in of thousands in late October with the same demands, and the giant multicultural and fashionable Brooklyn neighborhood saw an influx of thousands of pro-Palestinian activists ten days ago. including American Jewish organizations.